Help Vicki Recover from Sudden Stroke

Hi, My name is Vicki and I am a 50 year old St Cloud, MN devoted Grandma and dedicated Tree Trimmer. The work I do is hard work but I love what I do. I started as a door knocker a decade ago and now i run the crew when the boss is gone.

The older i get the more I hurt and the longer it takes to get "the blood pumping" i. the morning and the kinks worked out.

October 22nd started off likecevery other day. I was sore, stiff, moving slower than I like but ready to do what we do. After helpingvget set up on site for the day I went to get work and give bids.

I didnt get a block from the yard we were working in before i felt a pain u like any id ever felt before. The pain was excruciating and it traveled from my leg midway down my shin and back twice before I managed to get my body walking normally again. Worrried, I started walking towards the work truck. As I walked back my right leg was tingling and felt heavy. My right leg got heavier with every step. I struggled to walk and dodmt know if I would make it back.

I felt strange as my vision was off, everything seemed muted and far away, I was confused and not processing information correctly.

By the time I made it back to the truck and got in I could no longer feel my right leg. It was completely numb from my hip to my toes. I tried to get back out of the truck to "wake it up".

Thats when I realized I couldn't move my right leg at all. I just sat there trying with all I had in me to move my leg for several minutes. I was terrified.

When my boss came over to the truck. I finally said outloud, "I can't move my leg. When we're done with this job, I need to go to the hospital." I sounded far away and unfamiliar. I wanted to go to a hospital closer to home so I naively sent a message to my doctor trying to get an appointment with him.

Still confused I was thinking it wasn't a big deal. My leg didn't hurt and I didn't fully understand my situation.

I was having trouble processing and understanding anything.

Within 5 minutes a pain developed in my chest and I started having difficulty breathing. I was beginning to loose sensation in my arms, my hands were shaking, random involuntary eye twitching and facial tics started and I was losing sensation on the right side of my face.

I knew then I needed to go to the hospital immediately.

They rushed me to the closest hospital where triaged as leg pain that had resilved I waited an hour to be brought back to an urgent care room.

I was having trouble communicating my symptoms to the nurse who asked me why I was there. If I still had pain.

She listened and I was able to explain I couldmt move my right leg and I felt funny she immediately got the doctor in the room and called CT and stroke protocol team.

Once the doctor came in and examined me and saw I couldn't move my leg, everything got really crazy.

I had a CT scan and was brought into a stroke protocol room with a stroke team.

I was given a variety of tests to visualuze any deficiency of motor function, strength, or decline in verbal, cognitive function and vision.

After which they told me I met the protocol to recieve TNK which was a special medicine that could help with certains types of strokes by breaking up blood clots and saving brain tissue if given in a certain time frame.

They also explained that there was a 30% chance it would restore function to my leg.

That sounded great to me.

Then they explained the medicine also carried a small risk of bleeding or death.

I was told 2 members of the stroke team would be in the room with me from the time they administered the medicine and for the next 2 hours. I would have neurological checks every 15 minutes for 3 hours, then every hour for 24 hours.

I would need to have an MRI.

24 hours after being given the medicine I would need another CT scan.

They explained I would be transferred to an ICU unit at another hospital where a stroke neurologist would manage my care if I consented to the medication.

Stressing to me I had only minutes to make a decision about the medication.

I had just 15 minutes until I could no longer be given the medication.

I had to decide now.

They said the protocol might restore some or all of the function in my leg. Without the medication, it was likely to remain disabled.

I still didn't understand what was happening but I understood 15 minutes to decide if I wanted to walk again.

So I consented to recieve the medicine by IV.

First they had to put a second IV line in the weren't allowed to administer the drug without two IV access points, transfer me to a different bed to get my weight, hook me up to EKG, blood pressure, pulse ox, and get some blood drawn and tested while they waited for the pharmacy to send the correct dose of medicine.

Once the nurse returned with the syringes the attending physician, 2 stoke neurologists via tele monitor and 3 nurses were in the room and stayed while she gave me the medication and until the 15 minute neuro check.

I still didn't realize what had happened and the way my entire life was already changed.

The medicine did work as it should and less than an hour after I recieved it I was able to move my leg, ever so slightly, for the first time. Within 2 hours I could lift my leg off the bed. I was really weak still. I thought a couple days of rest and I'll be okay.

I was transferred to ICU where I stayed for 2 days. While in ICU I saw many doctors and they ran a lot of tests.

I was hooked up to monitors constantly. Not allowed to get out of bed without nurses assistance. My bed had an alarm which went off if I rolled over.

Before I was discharged neurologist who signed off my discharge spoke to me about what had happened and my conditions, what to expect and what to watch for.

It was during this final consult I was told I had a TIA and that put me at a higher risk for another stroke like event and even higher risk for a major stroke.

I was diagnosed with AFib which I found out is a very scary heart condition that also raises my risk factor for stroke.

I was put on a very aggressive lifestyle change plan and some medications to lower my risk of stroke. I was given a lot of referrals, and information

I was told I got very lucky.

I expected to go home and put it all behind me, go back to work.

I'd eat better, exercise more, slow down a little.

I had no idea and was unprepared for what was in store for me when I got home.

I felt fine laying in ICU. Tired? Yes. but I felt like everything would be okay and it may be.

I foubd myself instead unable to walk farther than 100 feet without having chest pain. Having no tolerance to stress. I have to lay down after making something to eat or getting dressed.

I'm so exhausted and weak. I've never experienced an feeling like this. It's overwhelming and it feel crushing.

I get dizzy and lightheaded when I walk. I have tightness in my chest that restricts my breathing.

I'm uncoordinated my fingers just don't work right. I have cognitive decline and memory problems.

I'm alive, I'm home, and I'm grateful. God is good all the time. I'm slow but with low expectations I can take care of myself as I need to.

What I didn't see coming and am horribly unprepared for is I'm completely unable to work and will be for awhile. It'll be months before I can go back to tree trimming or any other job, if ever.

I am a single woman responsible for taking care of myself and I suddenly find myself unable to do so financially. I have no savings and dont know where to turn for help.

Being helpless to fix my situation on my own and provide for my own care and manage my own finances is really scary.

I'm absolutely terrified.

I have upcoming medical appointments, and a big fight on my hands to get healthy and educate myself on ways to decrease my risk of sudden cardiac death, major stroke, and another debilitating major health crisises.

I have to learn a new way of eating which is much more costly, stay stress free and focus on managing my illness and making my medical appointments.

I'm struggling with daily living expenses and I am worried I will lose my apartment, my vehicle and ultimately my lif, just like that.

In the blink of an eye, everything changed for me.

I need help. Another scary thing to admit.

My hope is this will reach anyone willing to help me withba gift of any amount.

I've spent a lifetime helping those in need in any way I can.

I now find myself needing to ask you to help this grandma of 10 amazing grandkids and mother of 2 beautiful daughters manage daily living costs and medical costs for a short time until I can get back to work.

Help me be at my grandchildren concerts and sporting events and live to teach them the importance of God and family, traditions, values and be there when they need that comfort only grandma can give.

My life is forever changed and will never be the same. I believe my life can still be filled with special memories and guidance and love.

Anything helps. Donations. Prayers. Encouraging words.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read this. I appreciate it. I wish only the best for each of you.

God Bless