Pam and Rick Wavinak medical costs.
Donation protected
Update:
It is with a heavy heart that I share this news. After nearly 2 years of battling with cancer, Rick passed away on Thursday Feb 16th 2017.
Rick you will be missed.
In July of 2015, the Wavinak family was spending an afternoon bowling. Rick suddenly fell and was in a lot of pain. After a trip to the hospital in an ambulance, the fall at the bowling alley had resulted in a broken pelvis. At the same time, Rick was also diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer. Just over a year later, Rick has now completed his 10th round of chemotherapy and with the support from his life coach and his family, he remains positive, upbeat and optimistic about his future. Rick is the guy who walks into the cancer treatment room and introduces himself to everyone. He tells them “you can do this” and “this will not defeat you”. There is no doubt in our minds that he has helped others cope with their cancer treatment while he is fighting his own battle. A few months ago, Rick broke a bone in his foot and he now has a walking cast. The bone in his foot is not healing due to the multiple chemotherapy treatments and Rick has been unable to work for quite some time. Despite all of this, he continues to approach each day as a gift and does the best he can to take care of his family while fighting his own battle. Rick is the role model for positivity and optimism. He is our family’s hero!
On September 11, 2016, Rick’s wife Pam had gotten up during the night possibly aware of the fact that something wasn't right. She lost her balance, likely as a result of the stroke. She fell hitting her head on the night stand. She was on the floor bleeding, semi-conscious, and not able to move for at least 2 hours before she was found. After the ambulance brought her to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, it was determined that she had suffered a major stroke and her left side was paralyzed. She spent the first week in ICU closely monitored to ensure the swelling in the brain didn’t get worse. Fortunately, after that first scary week in the ICU, she was transferred to the rehabilitation floor at North.
Pam is now getting physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy on a daily basis. She is slowly but steadily improving. Some sensitivity is returning and she can manage some very small movement in her left fingers and toes. She is speaking with us and hasn’t lost her sense of humor. However, it will be some time before she is able to leave the hospital.
Every time we see her, she has a smile on her face, and she continues to work each day to try to regain some movement on her left side. Up until her stroke, Pam was supporting the family by working full time, taking care of Rick, and helping out with her grandson Aiden.
While daughter Amy and son Mike have been helping as much as they can, this family has been turned completely upside down.
Many of you know Pam and Rick, and you know that they would give the shirts off their backs to help someone. They are the first 2 people who will be there for you. They have worked hard and sacrificed to make a better life for their kids and grandson. Currently Pam and Rick are unable to work and the bills are mounting. Let’s help this family who has given so much to everyone else. They need our help.
It is with a heavy heart that I share this news. After nearly 2 years of battling with cancer, Rick passed away on Thursday Feb 16th 2017.
Rick you will be missed.
In July of 2015, the Wavinak family was spending an afternoon bowling. Rick suddenly fell and was in a lot of pain. After a trip to the hospital in an ambulance, the fall at the bowling alley had resulted in a broken pelvis. At the same time, Rick was also diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer. Just over a year later, Rick has now completed his 10th round of chemotherapy and with the support from his life coach and his family, he remains positive, upbeat and optimistic about his future. Rick is the guy who walks into the cancer treatment room and introduces himself to everyone. He tells them “you can do this” and “this will not defeat you”. There is no doubt in our minds that he has helped others cope with their cancer treatment while he is fighting his own battle. A few months ago, Rick broke a bone in his foot and he now has a walking cast. The bone in his foot is not healing due to the multiple chemotherapy treatments and Rick has been unable to work for quite some time. Despite all of this, he continues to approach each day as a gift and does the best he can to take care of his family while fighting his own battle. Rick is the role model for positivity and optimism. He is our family’s hero!
On September 11, 2016, Rick’s wife Pam had gotten up during the night possibly aware of the fact that something wasn't right. She lost her balance, likely as a result of the stroke. She fell hitting her head on the night stand. She was on the floor bleeding, semi-conscious, and not able to move for at least 2 hours before she was found. After the ambulance brought her to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, it was determined that she had suffered a major stroke and her left side was paralyzed. She spent the first week in ICU closely monitored to ensure the swelling in the brain didn’t get worse. Fortunately, after that first scary week in the ICU, she was transferred to the rehabilitation floor at North.
Pam is now getting physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy on a daily basis. She is slowly but steadily improving. Some sensitivity is returning and she can manage some very small movement in her left fingers and toes. She is speaking with us and hasn’t lost her sense of humor. However, it will be some time before she is able to leave the hospital.
Every time we see her, she has a smile on her face, and she continues to work each day to try to regain some movement on her left side. Up until her stroke, Pam was supporting the family by working full time, taking care of Rick, and helping out with her grandson Aiden.
While daughter Amy and son Mike have been helping as much as they can, this family has been turned completely upside down.
Many of you know Pam and Rick, and you know that they would give the shirts off their backs to help someone. They are the first 2 people who will be there for you. They have worked hard and sacrificed to make a better life for their kids and grandson. Currently Pam and Rick are unable to work and the bills are mounting. Let’s help this family who has given so much to everyone else. They need our help.
Organizer
Chris Magnussen
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN