Help Maureen walk again

Hello to Maureen Dwyer's family and friends....

Maureen is working her way back to walking again. On February 26th, Maureen was admitted to Illinois Masonic Hospital, within 3 days she was in a wheelchair. Her most important message is to listen to potential early warning signs. The first possible sign was June 2021. While getting ready, she noticed a mild tingling in her left shin. It was summertime, she was having fun with friends and family, working on her feet bartending, she thought it was work related like all the other little aches. Come Fall 2021, whatever was happening to Maureen now had her attention when she would be in agony and couldn’t sleep for as many as 3 days in a row. On October 4th she went to Masonic for the first time. Ultrasounds were done to rule out clots. Neuropathy was suggested, Gabapentin was prescribed and discharged. When asked what to do about the pain and lack of sleep she was instructed to take 2 tylenol, 2 ibuprofen and a benadryl.

Now fast forward to her two week stay that began February: Multiple CT’s scans, MRI of brain, neck, spine, Lumbar Puncture, countless blood tests and ultrasounds of kidneys and bladder and an EMG. Maureen's eyesight was also tested because prior to hospital she noticed her eyes were blurring on a visit to her mom and while watching TV. Again, neuropathy was suggested, but which type? There are over a hundred types of neuropathy. The pain and numbness escalated at a rapid pace. After her hospital stay, she was transferred to 2 separate nursing home/ rehabilitation facilities, where she currently resides 4 months later. During her stay at the first nursing home, she was taken by ambulance twice to Swedish Covenant Hospital. Her choice. The ER physician didn't need to ask Maureen her pain level because her heart rate and blood pressure were excessive. He was shocked that the doctor from Masonic had her pain med set for every 12 hours. He switched it to 4-6 hours, a more reasonable time frame.

Here is an evolution of what was happening to Maureen during this time: weakness of legs that had her using a walker, next legs collapsing and she was in a wheelchair, from her feet and shins the pain traveled up leg with complete numbness to the skin. Then she couldn't feel her chest, neck, scalp, face, bottom lip, half of her tongue and her scalp. She began to stutter. Her family and friends noticed a change in her voice. She experienced brain fog from prescriptions.

To paint a picture of the pain, Maureen said it was like having cement in her feet, while being squeezed by a vice grip, pencils shoved through the bottom of her feet and for extra pleasure individual curved fishing hooks in all 10 toes. Yikes! As for her hands it has that same cement feeling, they curve like claws at times, tingle/buzz on the inside. She can't feel items when she goes to pick them up. Items will fall out of her hands such as her cellphone. You should see the screen :). Texting or typing are another story. She cut phone usage severely because of pain and her fingers will slide over keys. So if you haven't heard from her, please forgive her.

There is no timeframe for recovery, but she has come a long way. The future holds more visits with her neurologist and more testing to get to the bottom of which neuropathy she has. Maureen continues her daily physical therapy and strength building. Her pain level has lessened substantially, and as of now, she does not need pain meds. Her tenacity, stubbornness, family, friends and her beloved caretakers are what will get her there.

It is with pure humility that we reach out for your assistance. Covid hurt so many in many ways. It crushed her restaurant/ bar industry and then she experienced this current health setback. If you are able to help, it is deeply appreciated. More importantly Maureen believes in the power of prayer which is the most important.

Thank you,

Nancy (written entirely with Moe’s permission)