Gloria’s glory

Hello everyone, and thank you for taking a moment from your hectic schedules. What I’m about to tell you is very scary and real, because it can happen to anyone, at anytime, and without warning! Life as we live it can be flipped upside down in a moments notice, and normal as we know it will be anything but. Just over 3 weeks ago, Wednesday January 11, one of my best friends Corey Smith was giving lessons at Upper Deck like usual. His wife Gloria Smith was home with his 2 young daughters Amaya and Olivia. Amaya called daddy crying, “Daddy somethings wrong with Mommy, you need to come home. She throwing up and her eyes are rolling back in her head.” Hearing the fear in his daughter’s voice, Corey rushed out of work and home as fast as he could. Gloria was responsive, but not able to control her body. He carried Gloria to the car, along with the girls and sped to Somerset Hospital.

Upon arrival, Gloria had another seizure and was admitted into the emergency room. Still unaware of the underlying cause, the attending Doctor noticed Gloria having trouble breathing and incubated her. This proved vital, as she never lost oxygen. As she was being transported for a cat scan, Gloria suffered another seizure and fell into coma. The results of the cat scan showed the unthinkable, a brain aneurysm that had ruptured. She had severe bleeding on her brain, and was unclear whether she’d survive the night, or at all. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick, where they have better, state of the art equipment and specialists. Gloria had emergency surgery to control the bleeding. The following day a specialist was rushed in, and performed a lengthy, dangerous surgery to repair the ruptured aneurysm!

Imagine your wife, sibling, child, loved one being taken from you in the blink of an eye!? Having no control over their well being, or future. Everything the Smiths have known up til this dreadful night was turned upside down, and hanging by a thread. The surgery went well, but ultimately was a waiting game now. It was a matter of time to see when or if she’d wake up. And if she did, would she be able to talk, walk, or have any kind of quality of life left. Truly a nightmare scenario for anyone to endure. Gloria was put under heavy sedation, to allow no stress and the hope for her brain to begin to heal, thus began the tedious waiting game!

As days and weeks passed by, just a few days ago Gloria started showing responsive signs. She was breathing on her own, and the breathing tubes were removed. Sedation was lowered, then stopped. I’m extremely happy to announce that a few days ago, Gloria woke from her coma. She could talk lightly, and was responsive. The right side of her brain took on the most damage, and because of that has no movement on her left side. She does have feeling, but can’t move her left arm or leg. None the less, thanks to God, all the doctors involved and medicine, Gloria found glory and fought her way back! She still has a long, grueling road ahead of her to recover, and therapy, but she survived. Amaya and Olivia will still have their mother, Corey his wife, and for us a friend indeed! The brain is resilient, so no telling throughout time if it’ll recover enough for her to regain full movement. Regardless, it’s a miracle she made it this far, and happy she’s still apart of our lives!

The fact we’re using GoFundMe shows that financial hardships are endured. Between medical bills, lost wages, therapy, home modifications to accommodate any disabilities are just the beginning. The Smiths will need a full time nanny to help with everyday things with their young girls. While they’re focusing on recovering and finding some kind of normalcy in their lives, I’ve created this fundraiser to try and help relieve some of the financial burden occurred as a result of this! If you’re in any position to help with monetary funds, it’d be most appreciated! If you’re good at passing word along, and getting this story out to others who can help, that would also be great. Anything anyone can do to pass this along and help the Smiths would be a blessing. Thanks for your time, thoughtfulness, prayers and support, and God bless!!!