Mari’s Stroke Journey & Recovery

Mari, or Marianela to some, is the brightest light in the room. Her laugher, banter, and radiating energy have made a lifelong impact on the people who have been lucky enough to meet her. If you have, you know she’s never met a stranger as she is an open person with a loving heart. Her happiness comes from serving others and her joy comes from making others laugh.

While pouring into others she had not taken a pause to give to herself. After many days trying to recover from what she thought was the worst sickness of her life, her daughter rushed her to the emergency room. It was clear something was wrong when her light was dull and she could barely form sentences. Her hardworking and fun loving lifestyle eventually caught up with her resulting in a series of strokes and possibly a heart attack. These deep brain strokes left lasting damage on her emotional, memory, language, and cognition centers.

Marianela was an independent woman who was in her final year of college. She had goals and dreams to start her new career, own a home, and find love. Unfortunately, her dreams are on pause as all of her energy needs to be directed on healing. She was putting herself through college by working as a lively server at Hardy Park Pub in Oakland Park, but her brain injury has now left her unable to work.

Therefore, while waiting for possible disability support (which many know is a long and treacherous journey) she is unable to earn money to pay her bills and buy groceries. Not to mention all of the new bills associated with her four day hospital stay, prescription medications, and follow up visits with doctors and specialists. Unfortunately, Mari had a gap in her health insurance while applying for what would have been her new career with benefits.

Friends, family, and anyone else who knew and appreciated Mari we ask you to aid her on her journey. What she really needs is freedom to heal. Her current and new financial burdens associated with the rising cost of living and medical bills are causing her tremendous stress. She is unable to book specialists appointments if she can not even make the copay. She is unable to stick to her new clean, heart healthy diet if she can not afford fresh produce.

People generously, kindly often ask, what can I do? How can I help?

What would help Mari most during this time is an energetic, financial investment in her recovery. Any amount would help. Thank you in advance as she can not get through this hardship without you.