Help Jonathan's Stroke Recovery
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Fundraiser by Michele St. Martin – Help Jonathan’s Stroke Recovery
On January 20, Jonathan Norburg suffered a stroke in the right side of his brain. Jonathan was at the Bangor, Maine airport, waiting to board a plane home to Minnesota after a visit to his father; the trip to Maine was a birthday and Christmas present from his wife, Michele, and their two teenage daughters.
Paramedics rushed him by ambulance to the hospital. The neurologist who called our family told Michele, “This is not a small stroke.” She flew to Maine to be with him in the Intensive Care Unit of the Eastern Maine Medical Center. The stroke paralyzed much of his left side. After several days he was transferred to the hospital’s rehab unit, where he remained for three weeks, working hard in intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
On February 13, Michele brought Jonathan home to the Twin Cities. He is currently at the Capitol View Rehab unit in Regions Hospital in Saint Paul. Jonathan has made good progress. While his speech is not the same, he is intelligible. He is able to walk, though he can’t walk unassisted because he has issues with balance and is at high risk for falling. He uses a walker in his hospital room but must use a wheelchair most of the time. His left arm is weak and he has little use of his left hand.
Jonathan has daily speech, occupational, and physical therapy. He is determined to make a full recovery, but it will take time, and he and our family are facing the financial reality that comes with a health care emergency. We don’t know when he will able to work. Since our health insurance is through Jonathan’s employer, we will soon be paying for it through COBRA. There are many expenses that insurance won’t cover, as well as the expenses and bills that are part of everyday life.
Family and friends have been helpful and supportive in so many ways. It is hard for us to ask for your financial support too. We will be deeply grateful for any donation, large or small.
Please stay tuned for updates on Jonathan’s progress – and thank you for reading this far!
On January 20, Jonathan Norburg suffered a stroke in the right side of his brain. Jonathan was at the Bangor, Maine airport, waiting to board a plane home to Minnesota after a visit to his father; the trip to Maine was a birthday and Christmas present from his wife, Michele, and their two teenage daughters.
Paramedics rushed him by ambulance to the hospital. The neurologist who called our family told Michele, “This is not a small stroke.” She flew to Maine to be with him in the Intensive Care Unit of the Eastern Maine Medical Center. The stroke paralyzed much of his left side. After several days he was transferred to the hospital’s rehab unit, where he remained for three weeks, working hard in intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
On February 13, Michele brought Jonathan home to the Twin Cities. He is currently at the Capitol View Rehab unit in Regions Hospital in Saint Paul. Jonathan has made good progress. While his speech is not the same, he is intelligible. He is able to walk, though he can’t walk unassisted because he has issues with balance and is at high risk for falling. He uses a walker in his hospital room but must use a wheelchair most of the time. His left arm is weak and he has little use of his left hand.
Jonathan has daily speech, occupational, and physical therapy. He is determined to make a full recovery, but it will take time, and he and our family are facing the financial reality that comes with a health care emergency. We don’t know when he will able to work. Since our health insurance is through Jonathan’s employer, we will soon be paying for it through COBRA. There are many expenses that insurance won’t cover, as well as the expenses and bills that are part of everyday life.
Family and friends have been helpful and supportive in so many ways. It is hard for us to ask for your financial support too. We will be deeply grateful for any donation, large or small.
Please stay tuned for updates on Jonathan’s progress – and thank you for reading this far!
Organizer
Michele St. Martin
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
