Supporting Willow & Her Family

Hello loving friends, family and extended community of Willow Gray Silvestrone.

As you may already be aware, Willow suffered a lethal level cardiac arrest on October 22nd. On that day, Willow was shopping with Tohni when she expressed in fear that she wasn’t feeling well and then went into a seizure. Tohni guided her down to the floor and immediately called out that she would need someone who could perform CPR. There just so happened to be a doctor in the shop who rushed over to help assess the situation and then performed CPR. One of the employees at the store assisted her with the mouth to mouth procedure. We are so thankful for the rapid response to her collapsing, it is what kept her alive. Willow received CPR for 10 minutes until the paramedics arrived (15 minutes after she went down). It is unclear the exact amount of time she was without adequate oxygen to her brain, and CPR itself can add to the damage. She was taken to Emergency and moved to the ICU the following morning where she has been receiving incredibly attentive and compassionate care.

Willow’s heart is now under control and when she has recovered enough to be able to leave the hospital, she will require surgery to have a defibrillator placed in her body that will “shock” her heart immediately if this happens again. At this time the doctors believe it was a heart arrhythmia that caused it, but are still investigating.

The not so positive news is that due to the oxygen deprivation, Willow has suffered significant brain damage on both sides of her brain. Her eyes are open, but it feels like she is just right below the surface. We’d like to start seeing Willow make voluntary movements and "tracking” us with her eyes or squeezing our hands, on command. She had slightly squeezed hands a couple times, but it is tricky to know for sure what is a reflex and what is a voluntary movement. We do know her eyes are responding to light and she is responding physically to pain and discomfort. She is also breathing on her own with a little help from the ventilator. The medical team are currently working on weaning her off slowly from the ventilator. Willow also underwent a tracheostomy surgery last week and had a gastric feeding tube put in at the same time. This allowed them to remove all the tubes down her throat which cause all sorts of problems as well as being uncomfortable for Willow. We can also see her beautiful face better.

We are now just over the two-week mark, so some significant time has passed. The neurologists were initially encouraged by her progress and “bedside responses” but she has not progressed much more than than what we started seeing in the first week. Willow has been working with fantastic nurses, neurologists, cardiologists, a respiratory team and a trauma care team. We are going day-by-day, hour-by-hour but we also know this is a marathon, not a sprint. We are hopeful and pushing for improvements, even small improvements we celebrate as victories.

As I’m sure you can imagine, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions as we take in and process information, updates and journey this with her. Everyone close to Willow has had their lives put on pause and now we are attempting to settle in to this new reality, which quite honestly feels like a nightmare.

Willow's mother Naomi has taken a leave from work. Sister Chloe, who just happened to be here visiting from out of town at the time, is staying with her mum and younger sister here in Vancouver. Sister Romani is going to school on and off. Brother Cole visiting when he can between working a full time job. Tohni has moved back from the Sunshine Coast (where she had just moved this past month) to fully support, and is currently unemployed. Auntie Marlas is here almost every single day, commuting from North Vancouver, usually after school drop offs. And there are many other major supports, just behind the curtains, dedicating their time and energy every day.

We are asking for financial support from you so we can take time and get resources to support Willow. We don’t know what Willow’s needs will be exactly in the months to come, but we do have immediate needs that are difficult for us to fulfill right now. We were informed yesterday that Willow will be in the hospital she is currently in for at least another 1-2 months.

Your financial support at this time will be used to cover rent (Willow's apartment and housing for her support system), bills (Willow's and support system), gas money, Uber/Lyft/Cabs/, food, therapy, body work, items purchased specifically for Willow's recovery and additional unplanned finances that arise. Financial support will allow the family to take time off work to be fully present and also have time for their own self-care, and to take care of each other without the stresses of daily life. You will help us to show up strong and stable for Willow at this momentous time.

We are assuming, based on the latest news from the health care team at the hospital, that Willow will not be able to live independently. We don’t know what that will look like at this point. The long-term goal on here is set (and may rise) to cover upcoming costs for a long road of rehabilitation when Willow is discharged from the ICU and then the hospital. We would like to see her get the best possible rehabilitation and care available, alongside alternative healing.

Willow is loved and cherished so deeply in our family and communities. A born & raised Vancouver icon. One of the most caring and thoughtful people we know. She has enriched our lives and makes such an big impact in our hearts. Please keep her in your thoughts and send her beams of healing light. She is strong, and doing her best to come back to her body.

Please consider donating an offering during this critical time, any assistance is deeply heartfelt and is an immense help to Willow and her family. We will post updates here when we are able to. As you can imagine, the immediate family is overwhelmed with emotions and may find it difficult to answer texts or messages. Please be patient and continue to respect their privacy.

We are humbled and grateful for your thoughtfulness and aid.

*Please note: Naomi Gray - Willows mother is the beneficiary of this gofundme on behalf of Willow & her family in case there is any confusion.

Thank you.