Support Joanne's Recovery from a Serious Stroke

 

 

This fundraiser is to benefit Joanne Marder, specifically to help pay for her medical, care and associated costs resulting from her serious stroke.

Hi, Tom and Geoff Livingston here. We're Joanne Livingston Marder's father and brother and we are raising money to help her recover from the serious stroke she suffered on May 27. Like so many other Americans in this situation, she no longer can work in the interim, and insurance is not covering large parts of her medical costs.

 

 

 

 

Joanne's daughter Julia, 15, found her on the floor after dog Teddy raised the alarm.

 

 

 

 

Doctors at Bryn Mawr Hospital fully removed a clot from the left side of Joanne’s brain. When she had sufficiently recovered, Joanne was transported to Bryn Mawr Rehab, from which she will be sent home on June 29 at the insistence of Blue Cross.

 

 

 

 

The family is devastated but hopeful that in time, Joanne can resume a full life. Joanne has regained much physical function but still has limited mobility and right-hand weakness. The larger issue is that she is aphasic, recovering words gradually. She struggles to express her full thoughts, cannot read much or write, and has impaired cognition.

 

 

 

 

Doctors tell us it could take six months to a year before we learn how much function she will regain. Increasingly she realizes she’s trapped inside her mind, unable to express herself, and it’s hard on her. We urge her to keep working, be patient and know she is loved.

 

 

 

 

Blue Cross is not covering any of the doctor-recommended 24/7 caregiver who will assist her when she gets home, and will only cover a limited number of the physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions she will require in the months ahead. Plus Joanne is a single mother. The parents (Tom and Max) are picking up these costs but we fear they will overwhelm the family.

 

 

 

 

So we are organizing a GoFundMe to help to defray Joanne’s stroke-related medical bills and ongoing care as recommended by her doctors. Fees will be administered by Tom Livingston and will be used strictly to defray her stroke-related medical bills and ongoing care costs as recommended by her doctors. We hope interested parties can contribute. Please check back for details and keep Joanne in your thoughts and prayers.