Marvin's Stoke Rehab & Recovery
Donation protected
Our lives were turned upside down on Monday August 15, 2016. Our father, Marvin Blair - 53 years old, was found at work unresponsive in the middle of the hallway. Employees called 911 and the paramedics said it look like he had suffered a stroke.
The paramedics rushed him to Vanderbilt ER and the staff immediately took him back to imaging to get a CAT scan of his brain. What they found was devastating. He had suffered a major stroke that involved several lobes on the left side of his brain. The ER informed us that for the stroke to already be visible means that he had been laying there too long and that there was nothing they could do, the damage was irreversible.
The damage has left him weak with little movement on his right side. His face is expressionless, he cannot move his right arm and has limited movement with his right leg. He cannot control his bowels and has to be catheterized daily, but the most heartbreaking is that he is unable to speak.
He spent an entire week at Vanderbilt Critical Care Unit where he received some therapies but then was discharged and sent to a two week rehabilitation center where he is currently receiving occupational, physical, and speech therapies.
He has one week left before he will be discharged. He has made impressive improvement with his physical abilities and we are certain he will gain the strength to use his right side again. With that said, after being present for several of his speech therapy sessions its quite obvious this is what will be his biggest and longest hurdle.
Marvin is not yet ready to be sent home. He still has to have a catheter. He is unable to express what he wants or needs and has bouts of confusion and is also suffering from some short term memory issues. He still requires round the clock care for his safety. My mom is fighting to keep him there longer and to give us time to find a more suitable care giving situation with the speech therapy he so desperately needs. She has also taken steps to get disability started but unfortunately we have had to obtain a lawyer, its a complicated process as this will be long term.
My mother has always stayed home with the kids and decided about a year ago that since she finally had an empty nest that she would go back to school to receive her LPN license. Her school is already paid for but now they face household bills and medical bills with no income for the next year. Our father can no longer work. I doubt he ever will again. There is a lot that is still unknown about how much he will be able to recover, especially with his speech.
Insurance will only pay for so much therapy before we have to start paying out of pocket. There are modifications that need to be done at home to accommodate his new disability. We need a handrail installed at home for the three steps leading up to the front door. We also need a small renovation in the master bathroom so he can have a large walk in shower that can be used to accommodate a bathing chair.
The financial burden this has put on our family is tremendous and we wouldn't typically ask for help but this has put us in a situation where its necessary. If anyone can contribute to help us get Marvin the rehab and accomidations he needs we will be so very thankful.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this and may blessings be upon you and yours for your contribution.
The paramedics rushed him to Vanderbilt ER and the staff immediately took him back to imaging to get a CAT scan of his brain. What they found was devastating. He had suffered a major stroke that involved several lobes on the left side of his brain. The ER informed us that for the stroke to already be visible means that he had been laying there too long and that there was nothing they could do, the damage was irreversible.
The damage has left him weak with little movement on his right side. His face is expressionless, he cannot move his right arm and has limited movement with his right leg. He cannot control his bowels and has to be catheterized daily, but the most heartbreaking is that he is unable to speak.
He spent an entire week at Vanderbilt Critical Care Unit where he received some therapies but then was discharged and sent to a two week rehabilitation center where he is currently receiving occupational, physical, and speech therapies.
He has one week left before he will be discharged. He has made impressive improvement with his physical abilities and we are certain he will gain the strength to use his right side again. With that said, after being present for several of his speech therapy sessions its quite obvious this is what will be his biggest and longest hurdle.
Marvin is not yet ready to be sent home. He still has to have a catheter. He is unable to express what he wants or needs and has bouts of confusion and is also suffering from some short term memory issues. He still requires round the clock care for his safety. My mom is fighting to keep him there longer and to give us time to find a more suitable care giving situation with the speech therapy he so desperately needs. She has also taken steps to get disability started but unfortunately we have had to obtain a lawyer, its a complicated process as this will be long term.
My mother has always stayed home with the kids and decided about a year ago that since she finally had an empty nest that she would go back to school to receive her LPN license. Her school is already paid for but now they face household bills and medical bills with no income for the next year. Our father can no longer work. I doubt he ever will again. There is a lot that is still unknown about how much he will be able to recover, especially with his speech.
Insurance will only pay for so much therapy before we have to start paying out of pocket. There are modifications that need to be done at home to accommodate his new disability. We need a handrail installed at home for the three steps leading up to the front door. We also need a small renovation in the master bathroom so he can have a large walk in shower that can be used to accommodate a bathing chair.
The financial burden this has put on our family is tremendous and we wouldn't typically ask for help but this has put us in a situation where its necessary. If anyone can contribute to help us get Marvin the rehab and accomidations he needs we will be so very thankful.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this and may blessings be upon you and yours for your contribution.
Organizer and beneficiary
Candace Rutherford
Organizer
Thompson's Station, TN
Terri Blair
Beneficiary