Support Kim Burke's Stroke Recovery Journey

Hello. My name is Tracy Mann, and I am a good family friend of Kim Burke and her daughters, Diana and Bridget. I am setting up this GoFundMe to help the family with their medical bills and needs. Kim gives to others and helps out whenever she can, and now she needs our help. Please consider making a donation or sharing on your Facebook page if you can't donate at this time.

On Feb 20 our mom, Kim Burke, hit her head when she slipped on the ice and, as many of you now know, several days later, on Feb 24, she was admitted to the hospital. On Feb 25, while still in the hospital, she had what they call an "evolution", which caused more damage on the initial stroke. Then, on Feb 25, for reasons unknown, they discharged her from the hospital without understanding the cause of the initial stroke.

Over the next 10 days our mom worked really hard on fully regaining the use of her right side, increasing her stability and strength on her neck and core. And with the permission of her doctors, was even able to return to work, part-time. Her excitement at being back at work, however, was short-lived. On March 8, after only one day at work, she suffered a second stroke. This time things were much worse and she had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance as she had no control of her left side or neck and couldn’t walk without assistance. Additionally her entire left side was shaky and her speech slurred and unintelligible. She spent a week in the intensive stroke ward. Now she has damage to both hemispheres of the cerebellum and, over the course of several weeks, our mom has undergone numerous tests to try to determine the cause of the stroke.

The current theory as to the initial stroke is that when she fell and hit her jaw on the ice after the last ice storm, an artery in her upper neck, near the base of her skull, tore open. The artery has been trying to heal itself by throwing blood clots, some of which ended up hitting her brain causing significant damage. She now takes meds to thin her blood and prevent further blood clots

and the hope is that the artery will continue to heal without any misguided blood clots hitting her brain again.

Our mom is now well enough to leave the stroke ward, but because of the severity of the 2nd stroke, she has now been moved onto the therapy ward where she'll need an additional 2-3 weeks, per her therapists, of intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy. This will be a long journey for her.

In recent weeks, while in the hospital, many friends have reached out to Kim to inquire as to how they can help her. It was suggested by several friends that she should start a GoFundMe campaign to help with the hospital bills that continue to pile up. So that's what we've done. Except, we are using Venmo & Zelle (no fees) There's obviouslly no obligation, but these funds would definitely help her avoid the stress and worry regarding her hospital bills. All money would go to help pay bills related to this stroke - ambulances, equipment, new medications, lost wages from work, etc.

Our mom would also appreciate any and all prayers for the continue healing of her brain, and that through her hard work in all her therapies that she makes a full recovery. We appreciate the time you've taken to read our mom’s story.

Thanks, Diana & Bridget, her daughters.