Able-bodied to Paralyzed: Pekka's Journey
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To my Beautiful Community,
When I moved to NYC, I had a rough transition — an unfamiliar big city, dark 11-degree weather, and my community included the loud, Beyonce-playing-at-3-am roommate that I shared a curtain-wall with. A few weeks into my new NYC life, I met the beautiful and incredible photographer Liina at an internship where she quickly became my saving grace and my best friend. Liina, her brother Jay, and mother Valerie, are facing an unexpected and heartbreaking journey of a series of unfortunate health incidents with her dad, Pekka.
The backstory
In August of 2019, 65 year old Pekka was hospitalized with a septic staph infection that was attacking his spinal cord. Admitted to Emergency with initial back pain and a high white blood count, he woke up one morning in hospital without feeling from the waist down. Following an emergency transfer to another hospital, he endured two neurological surgeries on his spine, one week in ICU, three surgeries on his wrist and ankles, a stage four pressure wound, six weeks in the hospital and five subsequent months at a rehabilitation hospital, all while fighting a festering blood infection on IV antibiotics.
Now he is in his last few weeks of recovery, soon moving to a Skilled Nursing Facility before facing the long journey of learning his “new normal” at home, as a paraplegic.
Needless to say, the family is facing challenging times. Pekka’s medical bills currently exceed $160,000 after insurance, and they’re still mounting. For decades, Pekka and Valerie have run their own business, just the two of them. Prior to August, that work included creating media and marketing strategies, grant writing, and developing and executing large-scale events, mostly for non-profit client organizations around the world.
Recently, Valerie relocated from the family’s home in Vermont to Massachusetts to be closer to Pekka’s care. Unfortunately, after unpacking an entire home, countless hours in the hospital, meetings with doctors and specialists, organizing ramps and wheelchair deliveries, scouting for a step-down facility, and many more stressors, the hours left in a day are not enough. During this horrific time, their independent business has suffered greatly with loss of income and piling expenses, as they are no longer able to service clients. When Pekka comes home, hopefully by April, Valerie will be Pekka’s primary caregiver, all while seeking new employment. Personal home care is not covered by their insurance, nor the Hoyer lifts, secondary wheelchairs, or bathroom modifications, etc. Here’s where you can help!
Send love & support
In lieu of your weekly coffee treat, or if your bills were less than expected this month, I am humbly requesting any amount of support you feel the capacity to give. Pekka and his family are warriors and I want to do everything in my power to give what I can and support them with this GoFundMe. I am so grateful to have an empathic and supportive community of my own, and I am confident we can make a difference in their journey toward financial security, health and hope! Thank you for your generosity.
Love,
Kate
When I moved to NYC, I had a rough transition — an unfamiliar big city, dark 11-degree weather, and my community included the loud, Beyonce-playing-at-3-am roommate that I shared a curtain-wall with. A few weeks into my new NYC life, I met the beautiful and incredible photographer Liina at an internship where she quickly became my saving grace and my best friend. Liina, her brother Jay, and mother Valerie, are facing an unexpected and heartbreaking journey of a series of unfortunate health incidents with her dad, Pekka.
The backstory
In August of 2019, 65 year old Pekka was hospitalized with a septic staph infection that was attacking his spinal cord. Admitted to Emergency with initial back pain and a high white blood count, he woke up one morning in hospital without feeling from the waist down. Following an emergency transfer to another hospital, he endured two neurological surgeries on his spine, one week in ICU, three surgeries on his wrist and ankles, a stage four pressure wound, six weeks in the hospital and five subsequent months at a rehabilitation hospital, all while fighting a festering blood infection on IV antibiotics.
Now he is in his last few weeks of recovery, soon moving to a Skilled Nursing Facility before facing the long journey of learning his “new normal” at home, as a paraplegic.
Needless to say, the family is facing challenging times. Pekka’s medical bills currently exceed $160,000 after insurance, and they’re still mounting. For decades, Pekka and Valerie have run their own business, just the two of them. Prior to August, that work included creating media and marketing strategies, grant writing, and developing and executing large-scale events, mostly for non-profit client organizations around the world.
Recently, Valerie relocated from the family’s home in Vermont to Massachusetts to be closer to Pekka’s care. Unfortunately, after unpacking an entire home, countless hours in the hospital, meetings with doctors and specialists, organizing ramps and wheelchair deliveries, scouting for a step-down facility, and many more stressors, the hours left in a day are not enough. During this horrific time, their independent business has suffered greatly with loss of income and piling expenses, as they are no longer able to service clients. When Pekka comes home, hopefully by April, Valerie will be Pekka’s primary caregiver, all while seeking new employment. Personal home care is not covered by their insurance, nor the Hoyer lifts, secondary wheelchairs, or bathroom modifications, etc. Here’s where you can help!
Send love & support
In lieu of your weekly coffee treat, or if your bills were less than expected this month, I am humbly requesting any amount of support you feel the capacity to give. Pekka and his family are warriors and I want to do everything in my power to give what I can and support them with this GoFundMe. I am so grateful to have an empathic and supportive community of my own, and I am confident we can make a difference in their journey toward financial security, health and hope! Thank you for your generosity.
Love,
Kate
Organizer and beneficiary
Kate Milford
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Valerie Paavonpera
Beneficiary
