Hi... I've never done this sort of thing... But it is very important.

All I ask is that you please read this... really though, please read...

This fund is intended to raise money for Karol Ann Clark. Recently she had open-heart surgery. During which she tragically suffered a massive stroke.

This is her story...

My name is Devin. I am the once rebellious, now loving son of Karol and Jerry Clark. They are crazy good parents. My Father is a 22 year veteran from the Navy. And mom is one of the single hardest working women you'll come upon. A child really couldn't ask for more. They don't drink, don't smoke, don't swear. Just good honest salt of the earth, people.

A few years after retirement, my mother began to fall ill. She started having trouble with small things as easy as walking to the mailbox. But, as you can see from the picture, she's not extremely obese. So this shouldn't have been an issue for her.

Further on, she began to have pain in her foot. So on one of their trips to visit their cute grandkids (XP), they had appointments scheduled for that time. Fearing it might be a stress break, she had it x-rayed. Well, her foot wasn't broken (Thank goodness). But, just then, a tech from the blood labs called her, saying she was in Heart and Kidney failure!

Over the next 2 days, her doctor scheduled 11 appts. She went to all of them and found out she had a rare tumor inside her heart called a left atrium Myxoma. A VERY soft and easily broken tumor that can break apart and go to her brain or lungs and kill her.

Side note so far: They moved to Yuma AZ, recently, but they had traveled to Utah for appts because primary Drs are scarce in Yuma, and that way, they could visit family also. They had planned to stay with me during the original 2-3 week heart surgery and healing process.

On January 12th, she went into surgery on her heart. The surgery went fine when suddenly! Mom wakes up! Only to hear this... Nurse: "She just had a stroke" Doctor: "What???" Nurse: "Yea, she just had a stroke. See???"

Those are the tragic first words she heard after the scariest surgery of her life...

Not... "The surgery went great!"

Not... "I'm sorry Karol, there were some complications..."

But the comments of a nurse CLEARLY on the ball more than the surgeon was.

The Stroke.... was MASSIVE. Initially, mom could not even breathe. Let alone swallow. Talk....walk.... stand.... .. (The black area in the image is the area affected by the stroke)

She was hooked up to tubes coming out from all sides. Over the next six slow weeks, she has learned how to breathe, swallow and even now started talking somewhat clearly.

"SO! WHAT'S HER CURRENT STATE?!?" I hear you. I'm getting there...

Currently, she cannot use her left arm at all. Nor her left leg. She cannot stand or even sit up. She cannot even get around when put in a wheelchair.

She has 40% use of her right leg. 65% use of her right arm. (Due to weakness)

She cannot get up to go to the bathroom. Or even wipe herself...

Basically, she's just functional enough to know she cannot do anything. It is a cruel existence...

Now that the hospital has had her for 6 weeks, she is being "offered" to find another place to go... So Nice!

Now we need to head back home to Yuma, AZ. My father is 70 years old. He's in shape for someone of that age but cannot care for and lift her alone. That is where I came into the picture. When we left the hospital, we only had a cheap wheelchair. Not even a pad for the seat. Whenever my mother had to use the bathroom, I would have to pick her up. Let my father pull her pants down and then turn and set her on the toilet. Then essentially the reverse (plus wiping) after. I'm in decent shape. Though after several days of this, my back is essentially done for.

On the weekend she was released, she stayed at our home to visit with her grandchildren. We had to borrow a car to get her home. This was difficult as I had not done a vehicle transfer yet. But, all in all, we made it home. That said, the process of getting her home and settled in ate most of that day.

Onward to Yuma! (Heading home)...

On Monday, 2/28/22, we left for Yuma driving in 2 cars. We needed to rent one to get my mom home in. The first day we made good time and did not have to stop a single time until Mesquite. During this trip, though, we found out that the car we had rented was highly uncomfortable and was hurting my mom's back. She's never a complainer, so to hear anything from her about pain was just weird.

We stayed the night at the Virgin River Casino. We asked for an ADA room but were denied. Other people had already asked for the 40+ ADA rooms. So we needed to use a portable toilet to allow her to use the bathroom in the rooms.

The second day to Yuma...

We left Mesquite and set out for Las Vegas. A car rental agency could switch the car out for a more comfortable one. So that was our plan. Get to vegas. Switch cars. Hit the road again. Luckily we have some family in Vegas and could take my mom to their home to rest while we switched cars. Unfortunately, it took nearly 5 hours to change cars, so by now, we have lost a whole day because of this. But at least we got to see and stay with family. (Thank you, uncle Ken and Sally)

The third day to Yuma...

This drive was the longest haul for us and consisted of several stops for bathrooms breaks with mom. These bathroom break routines were still new to us all and not very smooth. A lot of yanking and pulling. Hard lifting and fighting against each other. We did our best to be gentle. By now, mom's back was completely out at this point. In contrast, she did her best to remain in good spirits. It was still insanely painful for her to do these transfers...

We just made it to Yuma by nightfall...

Over the next 2 weeks...

We smoothed out a lot of the transfer issues at their home. A cheap lifting piece of equipment was purchased to help do this without standing and twisting her back constantly. That helped some. But a nicer one would allow her to use an actual toilet instead of the portable one in the front room.

So here's my plea to you all,

This is a fund that you can trust! Your generous help will be going to an amazing person! Someone who has been good to others in life and deserves a bit of relief from the troubles that have befallen her. This chance injury could not have happened to a better person. She never talks bad about someone. She constantly does all sorts of gifts and crafts that she donates to others in need. The most admirable her tons of hours volunteering her time without ever charging a scent. She is a good person...

Please help my mother and father make their goal. I do not get any of this. It's will only be going into a fund to help them continue to live in retiriment without needing to live in a full time nursing home apart from each other....