Brian’s Recovery

UPDATE. March 25, 2023

It’s been a year of growth, re-learning, frustrations and progress for Brian and all of my immediate family. Strokes are really a phenomena that are really difficult to understand until you are intimately connected. We’ve learned that recovery has ebbs and flows. It’s not a straight line. Hours, days and weeks can pass and you can feel that things aren’t getting better. January was a really difficult month for Brian. He was frustrated and angry. Frustrated that he wasn’t seeing the progress that he had been working so hard on. Angry because no doctor could tell him why he had a stroke as he was now at the one year anniversary of the event. Then February happened. Brian was finally able to walk without a cane. A year prior he was in a wheelchair. This was a HUGE accomplishment for him. It has allowed for a new level of independence and a lifestyle that more resembles the life that Brian is familiar with and so desperately wants again. With the developments - the current physical and occupational therapies have PAUSED. What we are now looking at are some newer techniques and situations that can hopefully build on the foundations of the last year. These are more costly of course but I think they are worth it. Please consider helping us to continue to provide Brian with the opportunity for a more full life and recovery. You can read below to learn more. Anything you can give is deeply appreciated.

-Bari

March 2022

As many of you know my younger brother Brian suffered a major stroke on January 4th. After a week in the hospital and 3 weeks at the Rehabilitation Center Brian returned home to continue his recovery.

I call Brian “the perfect stroke rehab patient”. After the initial scary days - Brian has approached recovery with so much positivity that is a testament to his personality. As an adult with Autism challenges are not new for him. It took him 5 years but he finished his Associates Degree during the Pandemic and got to walk across the stage with a smile and bounce that is uniquely Brian. The past three years we have lost both parents and Brian continues to remember and honor our parents each and every day. Yeah…challenges. Brian NEVER feels sorry for himself. Not long after being admitted to the Rehabilitation Center it was clear to the staff there that he was committed to walking and achieving independence again.

In the last month all of his strengths have become more evident to me than ever before. He will walk independently to his favorite bookstore again. This much I’m certain of. I have also learned that the first year following a stroke is when you really see the most improvement. To that end it’s crucial that he get the best therapies and medicine. As the primary caregiver of an adult with a disability I am BOTH grateful for the services he receives AND uniquely aware of the fact that he will need more in the next 9 months to reach his goals. This is why I am reaching out to my community and network.

Whether it be pricey medications like Botox injections every 3 months to combat the stiffness in his leg and arm or extra PT above the 90 minutes a week covered by his insurance I want to give Brian the best chance possible at a full recovery!

Thank you so much for considering a donation and learning a little about Brian in the process.