Nancy Russell Recovery Fund
If you know Nancy Russell, then you know her smiles are contagious, her baked goods are legendary, and her love for her family, friends, and her store are the foundation of her life. She lends a hand to anyone in need, and now, Nancy is the one who needs a hand.
On Monday, April 24, Nancy suffered a life-changing, massive stroke. She was taken to a local hospital and has been in an intensive care unit ever since. She has no movement on her right side and has been unable to speak. As her brain continued to swell, a craniotomy was performed to relieve pressure. Despite this, Nancy still experienced swelling and was unresponsive for several days. She did awake today (exactly 7 days after the stroke) and was doing better. However, doctors are not sure yet what deficits she might have as a result of the stroke and the swelling, and they also have to contend with a complicated heart issue once the stroke is controlled. While Nancy is holding stable, she has a very, very long road of recovery ahead of her.
As you likely know, Nancy is the sole owner of the Norman bakery, Cookies-n-Cards. She opened the store 33 years ago above the Town Tavern on Campus Corner and has kept it going all these years. For the majority of the time, Nancy was the only one running the shop, but in the most recent years, she has found herself some trusted companions to assist her. While she is recovering (and for however long is needed), these assistants and a few of her closest friends are maintaining the operations of the store. While it feels weird to do things without Nancy, they are doing everything in her honor and making sure her life's work does not go by the wayside. Even though Nancy cannot say it, we know that having the store up and running would be one of her biggest concerns and we don't want her to worry about a thing.
All of that said, Nancy's expenses are going to be astronomical. Two ambulance rides, diagnostics from not one but two hospitals, at least 7 days (thus far) in an ICU unit, a craniotomy, and countless days in the hospital to come....the financial costs that come with that are not costs that can be managed by an owner's wage from a small business. In addition to her medical costs, the costs of keeping the store open are expensive as well. There are supplies to be bought, repairs to be made, and bills that continue to come in.
Nancy never asks a single thing from anyone...she refuses gifts at the holidays, wants nothing for her birthdays, and won't even ask even when she truly needs assistance. We are sure that even now, she wouldn't say she needed help. So we will say it for her. Nancy needs help. Any amount is welcome and will make a difference. She does whatever she can to make someone smile and make a positive impact in their day, so help us make one in hers. <3
*Recently, KFOR chose Nancy to be a Pay it 4ward recipient. This is just another example of the difference she has made in someone's life. http://kfor.com/2017/04/05/shes-my-angel-norman-woman-praised-for-helping-others-during-times-of-need/