Lawrence Watson – Get Well Fundraiser
Donation protected
As a lot of you may know, I try to get involved in helping someone or a family out each year. This year my choice is very dear to my heart as well as many of our joint friends!
Recently, one of my best friends, Kelly Reise, and her husband, Lawrence Watson, were on vacation with my hubby and I in the Dominican Republic. Kelly and Lawrence flew home on the Friday night/early Saturday and Monday November 26th morning Lawrence had a severe stroke and is still in the hospital.
For those of you who may not know Lawrence, let me tell you a bit about the kind of person he is. Lawrence is a fierce friend, brother, uncle, father, husband and all-around caring human being. You can always find him helping his family, friends and neighbours with anything and everything. He loves spending time with family and friends, building things, listening to music and he loves to travel. He is a hard worker and has worked at the same company for almost 37 years. He has moved up through the company due to his hard work and determination and we have no doubt that Lawrence’s smarts and determination will help him throughout his recovery journey.
Thank God he is out of ICU and is now on the Neurological/Stoke floor. The family has been told they are facing a very long recovery ahead of them as the stroke affected Lawrence’s speech and his ability to open his eyes. We’re not sure yet if his eyesight or if his memory will be affected, again this is something we will find out throughout Lawrence’s recovery.
in more detail;
Lawrence had a bilateral thalamas stroke which affects his speech, ability to open his eyes and possibly his memory. We won’t know the extent of the damage until he can communicate on a regular basis.
A thalamic stroke is a type of lacunar stroke, which refers to a stroke in a deep part of your brain. Thalamic strokes occur in your thalamus, a small but important part of your brain. It’s involved in many crucial aspects of your everyday life, including speech, memory, balance, motivation, and sensations of physical touch and pain. The details of what the thalamus does can be found in the following link: http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org/Spring-2015/When-Stroke-Affects-the-Thalamus/
Lawrence is currently being fed through a PEG Tube (which is inserted in his stomach). Once he can communicate, the hope is he will begin a regular eating schedule. He requires continued physiotherapy and communication to get him talking and then will require speech therapy.
The severity of Lawrence’s stroke has affected not only the thalami but also the left side of his brain. His recovery will be a long road for him and his family (doctors have said it could take 1-2 years). Although Lawrence has coverage through insurance, finances received will be drastically reduced and costs associated with recovery, any funds raised will help cover expenses not covered by benefits and OHIP that will be needed to support Lawrence through his recovery.
The funds raised will financially assist with daily hospital parking fees, internet fees (so his wife Kelly can continue to work to be with Lawrence through his recovery), post-hospital facility (which is not covered by OHIP and his company insurance will only cover a portion), home alterations that will be required once Lawrence is ready to come home (railing for front porch, possibly ramp, etc).
I am hoping we can help them out with some of the costs that are not included in the OHIP or their benefits such as daily parking, internet so Kelly can work from the hospital to be with Lawrence, a TV to always have noise in hopes that it will push Lawrence to continue to communicate, Speech & Physical Therapy as he becomes more and more engaged and able to work with therapists.
Just to name a few but not limited to:
Parking: $20/day ($50-14 day pass)
Internet: $50/month
Speech Therapy: $130/session (Work insurance covers 15 sessions)
Physical Therapy: $85-$120 (Work insurance will cover up to $1000/year)
We won’t know if any equipment or post-hospital facility will be required until we are more aware of the full extent of the damage the stroke caused.
I know a lot of my friends know Kelly and all the time and effort she puts into giving to others. I am hoping we can pull together and help her and Lawrence and their family through this difficult and challenging time.
Thanking you in advance for helping in anyway you can.
Sincerest appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the Watson/Reise family
Recently, one of my best friends, Kelly Reise, and her husband, Lawrence Watson, were on vacation with my hubby and I in the Dominican Republic. Kelly and Lawrence flew home on the Friday night/early Saturday and Monday November 26th morning Lawrence had a severe stroke and is still in the hospital.
For those of you who may not know Lawrence, let me tell you a bit about the kind of person he is. Lawrence is a fierce friend, brother, uncle, father, husband and all-around caring human being. You can always find him helping his family, friends and neighbours with anything and everything. He loves spending time with family and friends, building things, listening to music and he loves to travel. He is a hard worker and has worked at the same company for almost 37 years. He has moved up through the company due to his hard work and determination and we have no doubt that Lawrence’s smarts and determination will help him throughout his recovery journey.
Thank God he is out of ICU and is now on the Neurological/Stoke floor. The family has been told they are facing a very long recovery ahead of them as the stroke affected Lawrence’s speech and his ability to open his eyes. We’re not sure yet if his eyesight or if his memory will be affected, again this is something we will find out throughout Lawrence’s recovery.
in more detail;
Lawrence had a bilateral thalamas stroke which affects his speech, ability to open his eyes and possibly his memory. We won’t know the extent of the damage until he can communicate on a regular basis.
A thalamic stroke is a type of lacunar stroke, which refers to a stroke in a deep part of your brain. Thalamic strokes occur in your thalamus, a small but important part of your brain. It’s involved in many crucial aspects of your everyday life, including speech, memory, balance, motivation, and sensations of physical touch and pain. The details of what the thalamus does can be found in the following link: http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org/Spring-2015/When-Stroke-Affects-the-Thalamus/
Lawrence is currently being fed through a PEG Tube (which is inserted in his stomach). Once he can communicate, the hope is he will begin a regular eating schedule. He requires continued physiotherapy and communication to get him talking and then will require speech therapy.
The severity of Lawrence’s stroke has affected not only the thalami but also the left side of his brain. His recovery will be a long road for him and his family (doctors have said it could take 1-2 years). Although Lawrence has coverage through insurance, finances received will be drastically reduced and costs associated with recovery, any funds raised will help cover expenses not covered by benefits and OHIP that will be needed to support Lawrence through his recovery.
The funds raised will financially assist with daily hospital parking fees, internet fees (so his wife Kelly can continue to work to be with Lawrence through his recovery), post-hospital facility (which is not covered by OHIP and his company insurance will only cover a portion), home alterations that will be required once Lawrence is ready to come home (railing for front porch, possibly ramp, etc).
I am hoping we can help them out with some of the costs that are not included in the OHIP or their benefits such as daily parking, internet so Kelly can work from the hospital to be with Lawrence, a TV to always have noise in hopes that it will push Lawrence to continue to communicate, Speech & Physical Therapy as he becomes more and more engaged and able to work with therapists.
Just to name a few but not limited to:
Parking: $20/day ($50-14 day pass)
Internet: $50/month
Speech Therapy: $130/session (Work insurance covers 15 sessions)
Physical Therapy: $85-$120 (Work insurance will cover up to $1000/year)
We won’t know if any equipment or post-hospital facility will be required until we are more aware of the full extent of the damage the stroke caused.
I know a lot of my friends know Kelly and all the time and effort she puts into giving to others. I am hoping we can pull together and help her and Lawrence and their family through this difficult and challenging time.
Thanking you in advance for helping in anyway you can.
Sincerest appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the Watson/Reise family
Organizer
Terry Ricci
Organizer