Maureen Blackwood's healing and recovery
Donation protected
To know Maureen is to know kindness, determination and optimism. Maureen was always the one to step up and help others, and now she needs our help.
As a young woman, Maureen kayaked, biked, skied, hiked and climbed. She was an avid outdoorswoman, until she was diagnosed with MS at the age of 35. In the years since her diagnosis she’s had multiple falls, and several unrelated accidents resulting in many concussions. The traumatic brain injuries and progressing MS have left Maureen confined to bed in darkened room since December 2017. Light, noise and vibration all exacerbate her symptoms and her brain is now so fragile that a simple bump to her bed can aggravate her symptoms, and cause significant setbacks or re-injuries.
For months Maureen had been working towards recovery at home, cared for full time by her partner Cheryl who also suffers the chronic effects of a head on car crash a few years ago.
This spring, Maureen and Cheryl learned that their new neighbours intended to tear it down and rebuild their house. Because of Maureen’s multiple concussions and extreme sensitivity to noise and vibrations, her medical team determined that it could be catastrophic for her to remain in her home during demolition and construction.
Unfortunately, we learned the medical system is not set up to accommodate cases like Maureen’s. After months of exhaustive searching for a solution, Maureen moved to a retirement home in July to continue her recovery. With the support of friends and family she’s been able to pay for her 5 month stay. The house next door is not finished and many of the major items still to be completed involve significant noise and vibration. It remains unsafe for Maureen to return home in the short term.
With Maureen and Cheryl’s financial reserves strained and their immediate circle of friends and family and Unitarian community stretched we are reaching out to a wider community for help supporting this family.
The $10,000 goal would allow for Maureen to stay an additional two months at the retirement home. Any funds not used for her accommodation will be put towards the new vibration-limiting wheelchair she requires, and to the supports and medical equipment needed to make her eventual transition home a safe one.
Please consider donating to help Maureen Blackwood. Your support is gratefully received. We’d also appreciate it if you would share on social media and with your email contacts.
As a young woman, Maureen kayaked, biked, skied, hiked and climbed. She was an avid outdoorswoman, until she was diagnosed with MS at the age of 35. In the years since her diagnosis she’s had multiple falls, and several unrelated accidents resulting in many concussions. The traumatic brain injuries and progressing MS have left Maureen confined to bed in darkened room since December 2017. Light, noise and vibration all exacerbate her symptoms and her brain is now so fragile that a simple bump to her bed can aggravate her symptoms, and cause significant setbacks or re-injuries.
For months Maureen had been working towards recovery at home, cared for full time by her partner Cheryl who also suffers the chronic effects of a head on car crash a few years ago.
This spring, Maureen and Cheryl learned that their new neighbours intended to tear it down and rebuild their house. Because of Maureen’s multiple concussions and extreme sensitivity to noise and vibrations, her medical team determined that it could be catastrophic for her to remain in her home during demolition and construction.
Unfortunately, we learned the medical system is not set up to accommodate cases like Maureen’s. After months of exhaustive searching for a solution, Maureen moved to a retirement home in July to continue her recovery. With the support of friends and family she’s been able to pay for her 5 month stay. The house next door is not finished and many of the major items still to be completed involve significant noise and vibration. It remains unsafe for Maureen to return home in the short term.
With Maureen and Cheryl’s financial reserves strained and their immediate circle of friends and family and Unitarian community stretched we are reaching out to a wider community for help supporting this family.
The $10,000 goal would allow for Maureen to stay an additional two months at the retirement home. Any funds not used for her accommodation will be put towards the new vibration-limiting wheelchair she requires, and to the supports and medical equipment needed to make her eventual transition home a safe one.
Please consider donating to help Maureen Blackwood. Your support is gratefully received. We’d also appreciate it if you would share on social media and with your email contacts.
Co-organizers (3)
Karen McKay
Organizer
Fergus, ON
Cheryl Cadogan
Beneficiary
Cheryl Cadogan
Co-organizer
Maureen Blackwood
Co-organizer