Kevin needs to come home
I’m Sabrina, Kevin‘s wife. Kevin lived across the road from my auntie in New Hampshire for 20 years. I knew him superficially in person but my auntie always spoke so highly of him, I felt like I knew him better than I did. He was always there to help her with whatever she needed. Whether it was help with her computer, her pool, her leaky roof or building a studio apartment for her. My auntie became ill and needed to move to Canada where she's from and where I Iive. I spent 3 months in New Hampshire preparing and moving her to Newmarket Ontario. Kevin as always, was right there to help. I grew to know and fall in love with the kindest, sweetest most compassionate person I've ever met. We married in February 2019 and started the immigration process for Kevin to move to Canada. Kevin had been spending half time here and half time in the US winding up a job he was working on. Kevin‘s move to Canada was also dependent on him finding a job. I own a home and manage to pay all my bills but I don’t have a lot of extra money.
Saturday, May 23 Kevin had a left brain hemorrhagic basal ganglia stroke. He is right side paralyzed, 100% incontinent and his speech is very limited. He’s also displaying some other outcomes such as anxiety, paranoia and delusions. Kevin has obtained a Canadian work permit, Ontario health insurance and an Ontario drivers license. When he got his drivers license in Ontario, his New Hampshire license was cancelled. That triggered his Medicaid to be canceled leaving him with no medical coverage. Kevin thought he had rectified that, but the finance department at Portsmouth Hospital has notified me otherwise. Kevin needs acute rehab after his hospital stay and we can’t afford private pay rehab in the US. I need to find a way to bring him home. Once he is home, he can access the acute rehab facility here through his Ontario health insurance plan benefits (OHIP). After his stay in rehab, he will need to convalesce for quite some time. We don't know how long this journey will be but so far his progress has been slow. I am looking into modifications for our home and vehicle. I may have no choice but to sell my home to free up our financial burdens. I will also be taking a caregiver leave for after his discharge from rehab. That is an unpaid leave and I would apply for unemployment insurance benefits which is only about 55% of my current earnings. Our families have offered to help financially, but I foresee a much greater financial need than they can offer.
We know and understand the emotional and financial strain that COVID is putting on us globally. Whatever you are able to help with is greatly appreciated. The ocean is filled one drop at a time.
Please join “team Kevin” and help bring Kevin home to Canada.
Peace, love and granola.