Hi All, Suzie Morris is a valued member of our Energy Storage & Solutions team at Mortenson. She took medical leave in May for a procedure that she should have recovered from in 8-10 weeks. Many of you have been asking about Suzie (thank you for caring!), so I want to share a little bit about what has been happening with Suzie and why we launched this GoFundMe.

During the original (and "routine") procedure Suzie took leave for, her esophagus was perforated. As part of assessing her recovery from that complication, an MRI scan revealed a 2-3cm tumor in her brain. At first, the plan was to wait and monitor, but then a second scan showed more detail, and her care team felt it should be treated. So, Suzie underwent a radiation knife procedure on July 31. It was expected to take about 8-12 weeks or so to recover from this. There would be some side effects such as headaches, auras, and dizziness as the tumor died off, but the tumor and symptoms would subside without further treatment. Suzie was making progress and was slated to return to work on November 12.

Unfortunately, on November 10, Suzie had a seizure while driving. Fortunately, she had the wherewithal to get herself pulled over, hit the emergency OnStar button, and unlock her doors. The next thing she remembers is being in the ambulance.

They were able to get her stabilized at the hospital and prevent further seizures. Unfortunately, her doctors discovered swelling around the tumor in her brain (likely the cause of the seizure).

Currently, Suzie is at home, but because there is still swelling, she has a lot of pain and balance issues. The good news is that despite this, she has already started PT, OT, and cognitive therapies.

So here is where I am asking for your help. First and foremost, I hope you will send Suzie a note; she would love to hear from all of you. Second, I’d like to ask for monetary support if you are able. Because of the balance issues, Suzie needs a bath/shower combo changed to a roll-in shower or step-in tub, etc. Although Suzie’s mom is currently staying with her, Suzie lives alone and is a fall risk. Anything we could do to help Suzie be safer and more comfortable at home while she recovers would be deeply appreciated.