Rally for Bill's Health and Recovery

So grateful for those of you who have reached out, sent prayers, called, and visited. The outpouring of love means more than we could ever express. To say that we are lucky would be an understatement.

On Wednesday morning, Bill had several small strokes near the left occipital lobe. He is so, so fortunate in that his only major symptom is right-sided weakness. As many of you know, and as I am hyper-aware of due to working in the medical field, this situation could have been much worse. We are so blessed.

As you can imagine, the road to recovery is a long one. Being self-employed and 6 months shy of being eligible for Medicare, Bill is without medical insurance at this time. We are in the process of utilizing and applying for several resources, including VA benefits and Medicaid, but there is no guarantee that he will be approved and there is no timeline for assistance if we do receive any.

At this time, Bill is unable to work. Although his motor function has improved greatly since the time of his strokes, he is still weak, easily fatigued, and experiencing mental fog and issues with short-term memory. The risk is too high. And I am a very protective daughter.

I am so happy to have a dad to take care of. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the US. Have I mentioned how blessed we are?

That being said, the responsibility of the upkeep of our home has fallen on my shoulders. I am honored to step up, but would be lying if I said I wasn’t overwhelmed, scared, stressed, and over-extended. I will be picking up as many extra shifts as I can manage to help with the household bills as well as attempt to tackle the massive medical debt we’ve accumulated over the past few days. But it is clear that I can only do so much while still attempting to tackle the role of Caretaker.

It is so hard to ask for help. But I have seen how powerful it can be when we lean into our community and our people. I mean it when I say that ANYTHING helps. We are so grateful for the love we have received this week and will continue to receive during this recovery.

Last but not least, PLEASE educate yourselves on the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and PLEASE seek medical help ASAP should you experience any. Time is a critical factor in treatment and recovery.

Life happens fast. Hold your people.