SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HERO -JOANNE

Hi I'm Dawn, one of many people in Nottingham who love Joanne Brodsky immensely and who have been devastated by the news that her life has been crushed by the effects of a major stroke and brain damage. During the last weeks of June, Joanne had been poorly and in hospital, after being discharged home, a few days later she was rushed back in and this shattering news was given to her beloved teenage and young adult daughters that she had suffered serious brain trauma and may not survive.

Joanne is a bubbly woman who has spent the majority of her life looking after others, her core values are of compassion, care, love and justice for all. Lots of members of the St Ann's Community will remember her as the manager of the local community launderette Bright Waters located on the Chase Precinct where she set up employment support classes for the homeless whilst they waited for their laundry. Through her work at the Vine Center she played an active part in supporting local groups to her most recent role with the St Ann's Advice Center and working with the local food bank to ensure Nottingham’s most hungry had access to food. I am sure you would agree that it’s fair we now support her in her time of need. Joanne has helped so many people from every walk of life and has been a community beacon sharing light where for some of us were feeling darkness. Throughout the pandemic she has been working hard with helping others and would be doing so right now had she not been struck down by this tragedy.

Born and bred in St Ann's many will know Joanne from attending Elliott Durham school where she was a popular and bright student, always showing care to her peers in particular those students who were most vulnerable. Joanne has an energy that is hard to forget, from her cheeky mischievous smile and laugh to her naughty but nice attitude which has helped her get through some of life's challenges. One of the biggest challenges has been losing her phenomenal mother, Elaine who she cared for lovingly and attentively during her last weeks before losing her battle to cancer.

One of her daughters shared that “she is strong because a strong women raised her”! Joanne is a super fighter which gives her daughters, family and friends hope, we believe in her super powers and know that with her “don't give up” determination and resilience she stands in a great position to make some form of recovery from the devastation caused by this sudden and catastrophic health crisis.

Joanne has so far undergone some operations to her brain and we are waiting to gain more information in relation to the long term effects, however we do know that the brain damage is significant and will have long lasting significant impacts on her life and she will likely be paralyzed on her right side.

I am asking for your help in raising funds to support Joanne's healing and take some of the financial pressure from her young daughters who themselves are starting out in life. I think we can all identify with wanting her girls to have the space and capacity to keep their focus on helping their mum emotionally and not having to concern themselves with financial burdens.

All funds raised will pay towards essential treatments, daily living costs whilst she is in hospital and when she is eventually allowed home. In effect I am asking you to help support any travel costs to and from hospital for her daughters, help towards paying her living expenses such as bills and anything else she requires in order to support her recovery. All donations matter size is not of importance, we are immensely grateful for anything you can give.

Please share Joanne’s story so we get the reach she so deserves, she would surely do the same for anyone of us if we were suffering as she is now.

With appreciation, hope, love and many thanks

Dawn