Help Stephen to walk again!
Donation protected
July 6th 2020 changed our world forever. Both in good and difficult ways. I survived a massive stroke along with brain stem surgery (surviving is the good part!) despite my loving wife and life partner of 12 years was told I would not make it. For 8 honorific days I was in ICU on life support for at Delray Beach Medical Center. They told my wife that I was not going to make it and she would have to make the harsh decision of when to take me off life support. She was unable to see me or be by my side except for one or two times as it was the height of the COVID surge in Florida. Family and friends could not come to my wife's side to help or lend support. It was extremely difficult, sad and terrifying for both of us. My wife started a prayer chain that spanned Colorado to NJ to Kansas to NY and Florida and all in between. Through the grace of God and my love for my wife & children, I did make it. It is our miracle! My doctors and nurses were amazing, from the surgeon to my daily care.
Alone and confused at times, there were many ups and downs and despair .... brain surgery to the threat of contracting COVID. I was in the hospital for a total of 5.5 weeks. I have been recovering for 3 months now and I cannot walk, speak clearly, work at my profession and have significant damage to the right side of my body. When I first came home I was very weak and had no balance and I fell 2 times. Theresa had to go and get help from our maintenance crew just to get me up from the floor. It was very scary. Eating, dressing, bathing and just getting up and out of bed requires aid... I am 6 foot and my wife barely is 5' and so petite, it is physically impossible for her to help me with many everyday needs, plus she needs to work to pay our bills. So we were forced to hire a help--- nurse's aid during the week so my wife can work to pay our bills. My doctors believe and so do I, that with physical, speech and occupational therapy 3 x times a week for about 3 hours each I can regain my ability to walk and talk and return to work.
We are hopeful and beyond grateful that I survived. It is the out of pocket medical expenses that are daunting and staggering along with the additional costs for care as insurance does not pay for this. I am working hard towards my recovery and have many months ahead of me to accomplish this goal. The doctor's say it will take over a year for me to hopefully fully recover. The physical therapy is essential to my recovery and my goal is to walk, speak and work again. We have never done this before, and are humbled by this entire experience. Please consider donating to help us. Any donation will help pay for these additional costs and keep me going to physical therapy. My Physical Therapy out of pocket for the (3) sessions are a $105 three times and my aid is another $300 a week. Our monthly expenses for just these 2 items is $2460 a month plus I have out of pocket hospital expenses of $10,000. Theresa & I are grateful to be alive and together. We greatly appreciate and are grateful for your support and any donation. Help us to continue on the road to recovery. Thank you very much for your time & consideration! Stephen & Theresa
Alone and confused at times, there were many ups and downs and despair .... brain surgery to the threat of contracting COVID. I was in the hospital for a total of 5.5 weeks. I have been recovering for 3 months now and I cannot walk, speak clearly, work at my profession and have significant damage to the right side of my body. When I first came home I was very weak and had no balance and I fell 2 times. Theresa had to go and get help from our maintenance crew just to get me up from the floor. It was very scary. Eating, dressing, bathing and just getting up and out of bed requires aid... I am 6 foot and my wife barely is 5' and so petite, it is physically impossible for her to help me with many everyday needs, plus she needs to work to pay our bills. So we were forced to hire a help--- nurse's aid during the week so my wife can work to pay our bills. My doctors believe and so do I, that with physical, speech and occupational therapy 3 x times a week for about 3 hours each I can regain my ability to walk and talk and return to work.
We are hopeful and beyond grateful that I survived. It is the out of pocket medical expenses that are daunting and staggering along with the additional costs for care as insurance does not pay for this. I am working hard towards my recovery and have many months ahead of me to accomplish this goal. The doctor's say it will take over a year for me to hopefully fully recover. The physical therapy is essential to my recovery and my goal is to walk, speak and work again. We have never done this before, and are humbled by this entire experience. Please consider donating to help us. Any donation will help pay for these additional costs and keep me going to physical therapy. My Physical Therapy out of pocket for the (3) sessions are a $105 three times and my aid is another $300 a week. Our monthly expenses for just these 2 items is $2460 a month plus I have out of pocket hospital expenses of $10,000. Theresa & I are grateful to be alive and together. We greatly appreciate and are grateful for your support and any donation. Help us to continue on the road to recovery. Thank you very much for your time & consideration! Stephen & Theresa
Organizer
Theresa Heitman
Organizer
West Palm Beach, FL