Help support Jim Ramsey after his stroke. ❤️

Update 3/7

Dad is out of the ICU/Hospital

Tuesday dad was discharged from the hospital and is in inpatient rehab in Ft. Wayne until he is strong enough to go home. He is getting stronger every day and will be home before we know it! He is getting a minimum of 4 hours of physical/occupational/speech therapy every day and he is definitely tired but it's necessary. He needs to retrain his brain and pathways to get as much mobility back as possible. We dont know how to repay everyone for everything they have done for dad and us during this time, but we will sure try. Thank you again. ❤️

Update 3/2

Making progress! Dad has had the tube feeds off for over 24hrs now and has been able to eat soft foods and his beloved Popsicles. He was able to sit up on the side of the bed a couple times with some help. He's not quite strong enough to stand, yet, but they were able to use the lift and get him in a recliner which he tolerated for a good hour this morning with breakfast. Fingers crossed to get his EVD out of his head today as well as the feeding tube. Sounds like he may be able to get out of the Neuro ICU tomorrow as well and start focusing on intense therapy.

Once again, we don't know how to thank everyone enough for everything. We make sure to read him all the cards, letters, messages, and everything else in-between. As of right now, he does not know about the donations because we know it will stress him out and upset him that people are worrying about him and helping out. He is used to being the one doing the helping, not vice versa. Once his blood pressure is better controlled and he's more awake, we will let him know of all the generous donations, because we know it'll spike his blood pressure and he will be upset with each and every one of us for focusing on him. But tough luck, Dad.

Update 2/29

Dad had a busy and exhausting day today. The pressure on his brain is stable when the fluid is draining off but gets too high when they clamp it shut when he needs to sit up or work with therapy. The docs will re evaluate daily and the nurses are monitoring it hourly for any changes. Thankfully he managed to sit on the edge of the bed with help from physical therapy for a few minutes again today and it went better than yesterday, so a little better every day. We will take it. Still waiting on the video swallowing test he had to see if he can start eating and push back on the tube feeds, so pray that study looks good because he wants his Popsicles and the tube out of his nose, can't blame him!

Every day he is making a little progress with his speech and strength, and we are so grateful. Thank you for everyone's continued thoughts and prayers, they're working and Dad loves hearing about the well wishes everyone is sending his way.

Update 2/28:

We can't thank everyone enough for their continued support and prayers. It means the world to us and will mean even more to our Dad. Today was a good day, he is still having difficulties communicating but he is completely alert and oriented. Therapy worked with him today and were able to get him to the side of the bed but he tuckered out pretty quick, but it's progress. They're going to repeat his head scan in the morning in hopes of clamping off his EVD which is the drain releasing pressure off of his brain. They want to see how his pressures are with that clamped and hopefully can remove it within the next few days. After that he will start intense speech and physical therapy and hopefully be able to get his feeding tube out of his nose once he can safely swallow, I know he is looking forward to having it removed. Once again, we as a family appreciate every single one of you and so thankful for you all.

Original Post:

As many of you are aware, my dad had a massive stroke early Thursday morning while at home. He had woken up and said something was wrong. My mom promptly called EMS after noticing his slurred speech and weakness. After some scans it was found that he had a large bilateral cerebellum stroke that turned hemorrhagic (bleed), and needed surgery Saturday to remove part of his skull to release the pressure on his brain and a drain inserted to help with that pressure as well. He remained intubated until Monday when they were able to remove the breathing tube, which was causing him a lot of discomfort and his body was not responding well to the medications needed to remain sedated. Thankfully he is doing well breathing on his own but is still requiring a NG tube to help with his nutrition as he is having difficulties swallowing and speaking. He has a long recovery ahead of him and I'm asking for the communities help to relieve some stress on him and my mom during that time since he won't be able to work until the unforeseeable future.

My father is very active in the Bronson and surrounding communities and is always donating his time to those in need, and now I'm asking that we give back to him if able.

My dad is the founder of the Bronson Community Breakfast, and every third Sunday of the month you can find him and my family serving the community free breakfast and collecting donations for various organizations and families in need of help. Just to name a few organizations he has organized donations for:

-Bronson Youth Center

-Branch County Humane Society

-Royal Family Kids Camp

-Bronson Food Bank

-Right to Life

-Beginnings Care for Life Center

-And multiple families in need of support

This is our chance to give back to him when he is in need of help himself, as hard as it is going to be for him to accept. He also is the co treasurer for the Bronson Vikings Music boosters, you'll be able to find him and mom volunteering at the concession stands serving popcorn and drinks for the plays that take place at the Bronson Theater. He has also donated his time and materials on helping maintain the theater. Come Fish Fry Friday's, you might find him volunteering at the Bronson Knights of Columbus helping out where he can and then can be found at the Radiant Life Church in Sturgis come Sunday. If you stop in at the Barone Hardware any time of the day, you'll be sure to find him working where he has become a well known face and friend to many that enter. Once he is done with work at the hardware he is always completing various construction jobs and has donated countless hours to those who need help with home projects and willing to work with those who are in a tough spot financially. This man would give you the shirt off his back if needed and I'm sure he physically has for someone at some point.

These are just examples of what he has done for his community and he takes pride in being able to do so. So I know the physical limitations in his future are going to be a barrier and frustration. The donations will be directly sent to him and my mom and help with the medical bills, loss of work, travel expenses, and future therapy appointments. My dad is the rock in our family and my mom and us 5 kids have leaned on him so much throughout our lives, and now it's time he leans on us and his community. We, the Ramsey family, cannot express how thankful we are for your continued thoughts and prayers.