Support for Roy Mathai
Donation protected
On March 9th 2018, while out to dinner with his wife Shirley, Roy had a severe episode of vertigo. He was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with cerebellar stroke. Roy was feeling some generalized weakness and had a headache but was otherwise fine.
Five days later, Roy became weaker and was eventually unresponsive to commands, so he was intubated and placed on a ventilator. It was determined he needed emergency surgery (craniotomy and EVD) to relieve pressure from the swelling and drain the excess fluid around the area of the brain that was affected by the stroke. While in the operating room, even before they could begin, the surgeons encountered complications and were unable to perform the craniotomy as intended. Shortly therafter, Roy had a tracheostomy and a feeding tube placed. Despite the fact that the intervention didn’t go as planned, we were hopeful that Roy would become more responsive as he came out of sedation and show improvement with intense therapy over time.
Roy has had several setbacks on his journey to recovery. As a result of the swelling he experienced, he developed dysautonomia, a condition that impacts the autonomic nervous system in the brain. This system controls the body’s involuntary functions like breathing, sweating, heart rate, and various other processes without our conscious effort. Unfortunately, this condition has led to several episodes of ‘storming’, where Roy becomes agitated as his body struggles to regulate those involuntary functions. He has also been transferred to multiple hospitals in an effort to get the best care during these last six months.
Currently, Roy is breathing on his own, but does have the tracheostomy in place. He continues to require nutrition and all of his medications through his feeding tube. Roy has limited responsiveness and has shown only some improvement over the past 6 months.
While we hoped and prayed that Roy would eventually go to an in-patient rehabilitation facility, he will be going home. He will require patient and comforting caregivers, and Shirley will be working to coordinate this round-the-clock care for him. This has been an excruciating time for those that love Roy, but we cling to the fact that God loves Roy more than any of us ever could.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pray
Please pray for Roy’s healing and relief from the various dysautonomia symptoms, for increased responsiveness, and for Roy to feel the nearness of God during these difficult times. Shirley also needs increased endurance and strength, as she has to return to work and coordinate all of Roy’s care. Roy’s parents and his brother, John, and family need comfort and peace knowing he is receiving the best care possible. Pray that the right caregivers are also found who will care for and love Roy.
Give
All of the expenses associated with Roy’s care at home are an out of pocket expense. Any funds donated will help Shirley to support his long- term care, including continual caregivers. Please consider a donation to help provide quality care for Roy and allow Shirley to return to work.
Thank you for continuing to pray and for considering a donation to help ease the financial responsibility of caring for Roy.
Five days later, Roy became weaker and was eventually unresponsive to commands, so he was intubated and placed on a ventilator. It was determined he needed emergency surgery (craniotomy and EVD) to relieve pressure from the swelling and drain the excess fluid around the area of the brain that was affected by the stroke. While in the operating room, even before they could begin, the surgeons encountered complications and were unable to perform the craniotomy as intended. Shortly therafter, Roy had a tracheostomy and a feeding tube placed. Despite the fact that the intervention didn’t go as planned, we were hopeful that Roy would become more responsive as he came out of sedation and show improvement with intense therapy over time.
Roy has had several setbacks on his journey to recovery. As a result of the swelling he experienced, he developed dysautonomia, a condition that impacts the autonomic nervous system in the brain. This system controls the body’s involuntary functions like breathing, sweating, heart rate, and various other processes without our conscious effort. Unfortunately, this condition has led to several episodes of ‘storming’, where Roy becomes agitated as his body struggles to regulate those involuntary functions. He has also been transferred to multiple hospitals in an effort to get the best care during these last six months.
Currently, Roy is breathing on his own, but does have the tracheostomy in place. He continues to require nutrition and all of his medications through his feeding tube. Roy has limited responsiveness and has shown only some improvement over the past 6 months.
While we hoped and prayed that Roy would eventually go to an in-patient rehabilitation facility, he will be going home. He will require patient and comforting caregivers, and Shirley will be working to coordinate this round-the-clock care for him. This has been an excruciating time for those that love Roy, but we cling to the fact that God loves Roy more than any of us ever could.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pray
Please pray for Roy’s healing and relief from the various dysautonomia symptoms, for increased responsiveness, and for Roy to feel the nearness of God during these difficult times. Shirley also needs increased endurance and strength, as she has to return to work and coordinate all of Roy’s care. Roy’s parents and his brother, John, and family need comfort and peace knowing he is receiving the best care possible. Pray that the right caregivers are also found who will care for and love Roy.
Give
All of the expenses associated with Roy’s care at home are an out of pocket expense. Any funds donated will help Shirley to support his long- term care, including continual caregivers. Please consider a donation to help provide quality care for Roy and allow Shirley to return to work.
Thank you for continuing to pray and for considering a donation to help ease the financial responsibility of caring for Roy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sybil Varghese
Organizer
Saint Charles, IL
Shirley Mathai
Beneficiary
