- A
- J
On December 12 2019 I received a phone call from a police officer that my mom, Snow, had been involved in a car accident and our presence was needed immediately at the Abbotsford Regional hospital. He told me that the car accident itself was not the cause of trauma, however that my mom was in a sedated and unconscious state. When the paramedics arrived, she was having seizures that they could not get under control so she was sedated then transported to the emergency room. My partner, Simon, drove me down to Abbotsford while I called my siblings.
At the hospital we were quickly met by the doctors and social worker who spoke to us about the tests/scans that needed to be done. We waited anxiously and in shock at my moms side. After a while, the CT scan results revealed that my mom had an immensely severe hemorrhagic stroke and a massive intraparenchymal hematoma ( pooling of blood) deep in the left side of her brain. We were given the option of a craniotomy surgery to evacuate the hematoma and educated about the risks that came with it.
We were also informed that if we chose not to operate, she would not survive the bleeding and would have approximately three days to live. My family and I had faith that she would survive and chose to go forward with the surgery. She was rushed to the Royal Columbian Hospital and she underwent the surgery that night. It was successful thanks to the incredible surgeon and team of medical professionals that saved her life that night.
My mom was closely monitored in the ICU for a week and then transferred to the neurosurgical unit. At the time we did not know what the extent of the damage caused by the stroke was or if she would regain consciousness. After a few weeks she slowly but miraculously pulled through and has been on a long road of recovery ever since. On January 7th she was transferred back to Abbotsford Regional Hospital and admitted to inpatient acute care.
The massive and deep bleeding in the left side of her brain has severely impacted her mobility and communication skills. She has right- sided hemiplegia (paralysis), and requires a wheelchair. However, she still has sensation and we are seeing that she is able to occasionally make small movements! This gives us great hope that with the right treatment, she will be able to use her arm and leg again!
My mom also has global aphasia which means that she can’t formulate words or sentences to speak and can't write. This has been frustrating for her since she is 100% mentally herself and aware, but unable to clearly communicate to others. Even with these physical challenges, my mom remains strong and determined to recover her mobility and speech. I have always said that she is the most resilient woman I know, and she continues to prove this everyday.
We are forever grateful for the healthcare system and individuals that saved her life. I have the utmost respect for Royal Columbian Hospital and all the assistance they offered. All of the nurses, doctors,care aids and specialists who have helped her along this way have a special place in our hearts.
But unfortunately we have hit a huge roadblock in my moms recovery. My mom was deemed unfit for rehab as she was not making enough physical progress. Since her transfer to ARH in January, each week the amount of physio she received decreased. I spent over a month pleading for more physiotherapy and reassessments so that she could have the chance to be transferred to a rehab centre. I spent almost every day by her side doing the physiotherapy I learned from watching the therapists, and using online videos. Ultimately they decided that my mom needed to move into a nursing home without rehab.
The transition into the nursing home has been bittersweet. The staff here are very compassionate, caring, and diligent with her care. However, due to this facility being a nursing home, she does not have access to the physiotherapy and other rehab assistance she needs. She is trying to stay optimistic, but we have had some tough days feeling defeated.
Prior to this stroke my mom lived a very fulfilling independent life. She was a single woman living on her own with her favourite son ( her cat Jimmy), worked two jobs, and had a fun social life.Our hope is that we can help her recover as much of her mobility and independence back! Hairdressing and cooking were her not only her jobs, but her passions. They were her way of bringing joy to others. She is turning 61 on March 14 and we want her to feel like the young, strong, and capable woman she is!
This is where we need help. Since she can no longer work, she is now reliant on the financial assistance of the government and our family. We have had consultations with healthcare professionals to seek treatment options for my mom. I have exhausted all options with government assistance and unfortunately the rehab therapy she needs is still far beyond what my family can afford.
After months of fighting alongside my mom and trying to get access to resources for her, we are asking for help to raise funds for her recovery. The treatment plans will cost about $15,000 altogether. With your support, the funds will be going towards:
- Physiotherapy / Neuro Physiotherapy twice a week
- Speech therapy once a week
- Occupational therapy once a month
My mom is the most generous and selfless person we know. She would (and has) give her last dollar to someone else in need. My hope is to have all the love and generosity she has put into the world to come back to her during this time. This would mean the world to her to have the chance to further recover from this stroke!
Thank you for reading about her journey. Please know that we are deeply grateful for your support in any capacity. We appreciate every contribution whether it be your loving words, likes, reposts, and donations!
All of our love and gratitude<3
At the hospital we were quickly met by the doctors and social worker who spoke to us about the tests/scans that needed to be done. We waited anxiously and in shock at my moms side. After a while, the CT scan results revealed that my mom had an immensely severe hemorrhagic stroke and a massive intraparenchymal hematoma ( pooling of blood) deep in the left side of her brain. We were given the option of a craniotomy surgery to evacuate the hematoma and educated about the risks that came with it.
We were also informed that if we chose not to operate, she would not survive the bleeding and would have approximately three days to live. My family and I had faith that she would survive and chose to go forward with the surgery. She was rushed to the Royal Columbian Hospital and she underwent the surgery that night. It was successful thanks to the incredible surgeon and team of medical professionals that saved her life that night.
My mom was closely monitored in the ICU for a week and then transferred to the neurosurgical unit. At the time we did not know what the extent of the damage caused by the stroke was or if she would regain consciousness. After a few weeks she slowly but miraculously pulled through and has been on a long road of recovery ever since. On January 7th she was transferred back to Abbotsford Regional Hospital and admitted to inpatient acute care.
The massive and deep bleeding in the left side of her brain has severely impacted her mobility and communication skills. She has right- sided hemiplegia (paralysis), and requires a wheelchair. However, she still has sensation and we are seeing that she is able to occasionally make small movements! This gives us great hope that with the right treatment, she will be able to use her arm and leg again!
My mom also has global aphasia which means that she can’t formulate words or sentences to speak and can't write. This has been frustrating for her since she is 100% mentally herself and aware, but unable to clearly communicate to others. Even with these physical challenges, my mom remains strong and determined to recover her mobility and speech. I have always said that she is the most resilient woman I know, and she continues to prove this everyday.
We are forever grateful for the healthcare system and individuals that saved her life. I have the utmost respect for Royal Columbian Hospital and all the assistance they offered. All of the nurses, doctors,care aids and specialists who have helped her along this way have a special place in our hearts.
But unfortunately we have hit a huge roadblock in my moms recovery. My mom was deemed unfit for rehab as she was not making enough physical progress. Since her transfer to ARH in January, each week the amount of physio she received decreased. I spent over a month pleading for more physiotherapy and reassessments so that she could have the chance to be transferred to a rehab centre. I spent almost every day by her side doing the physiotherapy I learned from watching the therapists, and using online videos. Ultimately they decided that my mom needed to move into a nursing home without rehab.
The transition into the nursing home has been bittersweet. The staff here are very compassionate, caring, and diligent with her care. However, due to this facility being a nursing home, she does not have access to the physiotherapy and other rehab assistance she needs. She is trying to stay optimistic, but we have had some tough days feeling defeated.
Prior to this stroke my mom lived a very fulfilling independent life. She was a single woman living on her own with her favourite son ( her cat Jimmy), worked two jobs, and had a fun social life.Our hope is that we can help her recover as much of her mobility and independence back! Hairdressing and cooking were her not only her jobs, but her passions. They were her way of bringing joy to others. She is turning 61 on March 14 and we want her to feel like the young, strong, and capable woman she is!
This is where we need help. Since she can no longer work, she is now reliant on the financial assistance of the government and our family. We have had consultations with healthcare professionals to seek treatment options for my mom. I have exhausted all options with government assistance and unfortunately the rehab therapy she needs is still far beyond what my family can afford.
After months of fighting alongside my mom and trying to get access to resources for her, we are asking for help to raise funds for her recovery. The treatment plans will cost about $15,000 altogether. With your support, the funds will be going towards:
- Physiotherapy / Neuro Physiotherapy twice a week
- Speech therapy once a week
- Occupational therapy once a month
My mom is the most generous and selfless person we know. She would (and has) give her last dollar to someone else in need. My hope is to have all the love and generosity she has put into the world to come back to her during this time. This would mean the world to her to have the chance to further recover from this stroke!
Thank you for reading about her journey. Please know that we are deeply grateful for your support in any capacity. We appreciate every contribution whether it be your loving words, likes, reposts, and donations!
All of our love and gratitude<3