Help my mother who had a massive stroke

Adam Hayes is organizing this fundraiser.

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In January, just a few days before my mother’s birthday, she had a stroke. We had celebrated her birthday early because the cake was delivered ahead of schedule. I put candles on the cake, set up a Disney movie for her to watch, and sang her "Happy Birthday." After she blew out the candles and made a wish (which, of course, she didn’t share with me), I cut her a big slice of cake, got her a Diet Coke, and went back to my room to finish some schoolwork that was due that day.

About an hour later, I went back to check on her and found that she had seized. At first, I didn’t know what it was—I thought it might be related to diabetes—but I had never seen anything like it before. I immediately called 911, and the paramedics rushed her to the hospital, where we learned she had suffered a massive stroke.

Before this, my mother lived a normal, active life. She did everyday things and enjoyed spending time with friends and loved ones. I am her only immediate family member; she was an orphan raised in Idaho. Her parents are no longer with us, and most of her extended family is not part of our lives. outside of a few exceptions of friends and the extended family of hers who do support and love her, she and I are on our own. My father left when I was young, and she raised me on her own. She is the smartest and most capable person I know.

She has been recovering from the stroke, but due to her age, condition, and the size and location of the bleed, she was not a candidate for medication to break down the clot. As a result, she has to heal on her own, which takes time and has significant implications for recovery. From what the doctors explained, the time immediately after a stroke is critical for regaining function.

While she is not brain-dead, she has not yet been able to communicate with us and still struggles to move on her own. However, she does make facial expressions, has shown remarkable changes in demeanor, and has overcome many challenges while making progress.

Most notably, around the third month (we are now moving into the 12th month), she developed something called a Kennedy ulcer. These ulcers are often considered a sign of the end of life; people who develop them typically pass within six weeks. At the time, she also had pneumonia, which severely impacted her lungs—a vital organ essential for maintaining the health of all other organs, including the skin. After recovering from pneumonia, she began to show signs of healing from this terminal ulcer. Remarkably, as of today, the ulcer has completely healed and is no longer a concern.

My mother once told me her wish was to live to the age of 149, and that is the hope I hold onto. I am doing everything in my power to help make that a reality. However, we need help.

We are asking for any help you can offer to our small family of two.

my mother as of today, on Thanksgiving. the first Thanksgiving we have had in her care facility