#TEAMTATE

*Tate suffered an Ischemic Stroke on 8/8/23. I’ve put my notes in order. You’ll see that it was over a week before I posted at all. Fact is?

We almost lost our girl to an ischemic stroke on 8/8/23 that destroyed her blood sugar control. No, I could not function in any capacity, let alone create an account. She was in Neuro ICU in Fort Wayne for 9 days. Then another few days until she was transferred to Chicago.

 Much Love - Tate’s Mom*

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*8/8/23 - I’m Heather, Taylor’s mom. Tate had a stroke on Tuesday. She’s been at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. She just turned 30. So far, there are no answers as to why this happened. She’s lost the use of her right (dominant) side. She remains in Neuro ICU. Later, with improvement, she’ll go to a med-surg floor. I want her eventually transferred to Shirley Ryan Rehab in Chicago. It’s #1 in the country & that is EXACTLY what she’ll get. (She’ll be transferred to an inpatient rehab facility as soon as allowed.)

She is VERY sick. 

They are attempting to teach her how to walk & talk again. Paralysis has her in it’s ugly claws. But she’s determined. She can’t feed herself or see & has a feeding tube. Massive brain swelling. A clot remains in her left Carotid Artery. This MUST resolve. She cannot (and WE cannot) move forward until that happens. This can break at any point, causing further strokes or death. Her sugar is out of control. She bottoms out, then nears DKA constantly. 

*THE CLOT IS GONE!! 4 days later & IT IS GONE. Ohhhh all the breath left my body*

She not only needs your emotional support, but costs are going to be astounding. 

Please help us. Please help HER. Help lighten the financial burden she faces. 

My daughter comes from a long line of Warriors. We are NOT stopping & we WILL get our girl back.

 I don’t ask for favors. I’m asking now. 

With much love, The Mother of Warriors. #TEAMTATE

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NOTICE A LOT OF EMPTY TIME NOT ACCOUNTED FOR… Please know that at this point? We had to aggressively & without fail or pause, help her do everything. EVERYTHING.. Zero sleep. Constant dread when the phone rang, even if she was right in front of me. Care outside of ICU was reprehensible with the exception of 2 nurses. 

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Update on Taylor. As you know Taylor had a stroke on 8/8/23. She’s making great strides and has now been moved to rehab in Chicago. She has very little use of her right arm and hand. Her speech is getting better. She’s walking with assistance. Taylor needs your help. By trade? She is a server, working two jobs. With no use of her dominant side, we don’t know what the future holds BUT.. this kid is a rockstar. She’ll come home eventually to never ending therapies. To all of you who have donated? I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please reach out to me for info (or her sisters). She is getting better with her phone but isn’t able to get the swing of it yet. Point is.. Bankruptcy is most definitely in her future. Any contribution is appreciated. She will continue to have bills upon bills and I don’t want her to have that added stress. I appreciate you, your kindness, well wishes and most of all your love & encouragement. She IS receiving your messages. You have humbled me greatly with your generosity. 

Much love, Tate’s Mom.

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UPDATE 8/26/23 Updating everyone on Tate’s journey. Today is day 18. Taylor has made a tremendous comeback from the ischemic stroke that damaged her dominant side & neurological functions. However, the use of her arm and hand are going to be much slower in returning. She can move her arm with great effort. The hand should follow. Some neuro deficits remain but she is our girl again. Speech is easier to understand. There is a tentative release date of 9/10/23, but that’s not in stone. She’ll come home to a whole new world. The house requires additions so she can transfer herself and maneuver around without falling. You continue to humble us with every loving word and any donation made. She can’t wait to come home but she fears what the future holds. OH! Pay attention and you’ll see her on FB every now & again.. like I said.. BIG improvements.. I prefer not to get any more personal than that.. just know that she is a new Tate. A warrior. But she’ll need your love & support and if you’re able to contribute? We’d sure be grateful. Thank you again. 

Much love, Tate’s Mom. #TeamTate #TateyStrong

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UPDATE 8/31/23 New updates on Tate’s progress and needs. After suffering an ischemic stroke on 8/8/23, that affected her dominant side, Tate has graduated from speech therapy! She’s been able walk outside, or be pushed outside. That’s done a world of good. Her balance is good. She can shower with very little assistance. Dressing is a challenge, but if anyone can do it? It’s our girl. She’s made tremendous progress. However, she will leave with little to no use of her right arm and hand. Insurance is bawking and many improvements need to be made for her to come home safely. And of course, bills are coming in now. Thanking you all again for your support. I’m amazed by the outreach and love being sent our way; as well as your contributions. If you haven’t donated? I’m asking again. Taylor worked 80 hours a week. That won’t be possible for quite sometime. The stroke damaged her vision. She will not be able to drive for … idk how long. The answer is.. we’ll see… 

Thank you again. 

Much love, Tate’s Mom.

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UPDATE 9/2/23 Tate continues to amaze us. YOU continue to amaze us. I haven’t thanked you separately. I’m thanking you as one love. One strength. One goal. Bills have started arriving. Day #25 after my 30 year old daughter suffered an ischemic stroke effecting her dominant side. She will come home soon and in preparation? We still need your help. Everything must be changed for her safety. Therapies will be endless. Doctor appointments will be forever in her future. She needs emergency devices, constant monitoring and whatever else we discover along this journey. You continue to humble me. She cannot read everything as her sight has been severely damaged (hopefully temporarily); But I read to her. She’s getting your messages. Thank you so much for that. For everything. 

With much love and all sincerity, Tate’s Mom.

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9/6/23 UPDATE Day 29. Quick update before Groundhogs Day… Tate has made amazing accomplishments this week. OT is preparing her the best they can to live without her right hand and arm. Neuro Optho comes tomorrow to devise a plan of care for her loss or distorted vision. MRI tomorrow. She requires a whole new wardrobe.. items she can use to dress herself. Shoes are a must. No ties but good for continuing therapies and balance. Remodels are coming along. Most of all, likely the most important challenge is.. if you didn’t know, Tate is a Type 1 Diabetic. We’re having trouble with an endo. She MUST be on the pump. She has to check her sugar and give herself injections daily. With her less dominant hand. This is life or death. We will practice injections left handed. If she cannot? We will do it. She will overcome. This I know. You all have been so amazing. In every aspect. Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated. Posting recent photos along with her brain scan so that you know how severe this ischemic stroke was/is.. With love, Tate’s Mom. #TeamTate #TateyStrong

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9/8/23 VERY BIG UPDATE!!!!! After an ischemic stroke on 8/8/23; 3 facilities and countless hours of SPT, OT & PT??? Our girl is coming home. Please note the cover photo. She graduated. That was written by Tate. With her left hand. Very impressive. But we’re not surprised. That which should have killed her, literally made her stronger. Only one way to go.. Glasses are ordered. Appointments set. Massive ups @SRLA & Dr. Bell. Thank you. Just.. thank you. That’s not nearly enough but it’s beyond sincere. We’re ready for the next challenges. Bring it. King Kong ain’t got ish on this warrior. Her bills are massive. Her treatment will likely last twelve months to regain use of her dominant hand & arm. Treatment: PT, OT, Neurologist, PCP, Endocrinologist, Cardiologist, Neurological Ophthalmologist. No driving for months. Modifications are in place at home and the rest will be done once we know what she’ll require. Assistance. Cannot be alone. We’ll see how it goes. The pump? For diabetes? First & foremost. Picture it please. She needs to insert a small needle into a vial, draw back the insulin, inject it with one hand. The wrong hand. Checking her sugar, left handed. The pump is a priority. Life or death. Safety bars. Shower chairs. Apple Watch with fall detection/vitals/EKG. Glucometer paired with our phones so we know her sugar at all times. Cameras for security purposes in case she falls or needs help. Different clothes & shoes that she can do herself, with one hand. She still needs you. Please don’t hesitate because she’s coming home. This is the most crucial transition. You have amazed us every step of the way. We don’t have the words to thank you. My gratitude is endless and you humble me daily. Please help Taylor if you can. Without working? She can’t do it without your help. 

As always.. 

All my love, Tate’s Mom. 

One Love. #TeamTate #TateyStrong

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9/9/23 TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!! (Day 32) … Bringing our girl home today. We are SO ready!! Let’s start a new chapter. Thank you all. You have supported us in every aspect. I have to believe that something good will come from this egregious travesty. 30 years old. Type 1 Diabetic. Working 2 jobs, making that money. New townhouse. Stood up in baby’s wedding. SO looking forward to the future.. and THEN? On 8/8/23? Time stopped. Our worlds were flipped. Tate suffered an Ischemic Stroke that attempted to take her from us. A stroke that threw not only her body and brain into a spiral, but controlling her sugar was nearly impossible. “Treatment” at Porter was a joke, except.. we weren’t laughing. It took almost 24 hours for a transfer to Fort Wayne Neuro ICU. She remained there for 8 days. A total of 12 days in Fort Wayne. Upon stabilizing her, removing her from critical condition, she was deemed safe enough for the transfer from Fort Wayne to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago. This place is rated #1 in the country for a reason. Today is day 20 at rehab and I’ve never seen my daughter more determined or work harder in her entire life. She came into this world fighting at 9/10 weeks early. She sure as hell wasn’t giving up. Will never give up. The stroke effected her front left temporal lobe & parietal lobe. This means she had no use of her right side (dominant). It damaged her vision, emotions, speech, decision making abilities and much more. So while we are leaving today? Her true journey starts now. Learning to navigate without her dominant arm & hand. Fears that were never present. The inability to drive or fully care for herself and especially checking her sugar and administer insulin alone is not possible now. We shall split custody (lol), and get her to all 3 therapies along with all doctor appointments for as long as it takes .. as a tribe. The money spent and continued need for the same is astronomical. I’ve said it a million times but know that it comes from the depths of my soul. A place that I didn’t even know existed. Humbled. Grateful. Hopeful. Those of you who have talked me (or any of us) of the ledge? I have no words for you. Other than.. Thank you. Simply said, but meant with everything I have. You amaze me.. and Tate. You’ve saved me without realizing it. I may not have responded, but I read every word. I’ve felt every emotion. We have lived vicariously through you. Please continue to help Taylor. She cannot work and needs you more than ever. To SRAL? Your loyalty, commitment & love towards my daughter and whole family will NEVER be forgotten. Thank you especially to Dr. Bell. We’ll see you in a few weeks with great improvements I hope. Any contributions are appreciated and still badly needed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I’m going upstairs now to pack the few remaining items and I’m bringing my daughter home. Yes, I’m bawling my eyes out. To the universe who attempted to take my child from me? You’re messing with the wrong person. I raised Warriors. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. 

One love. One tribe. One goal. #TeamTate #TateyStrong #BadassBitch 

My eternal gratitude- Tate’s Mom

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9/12/23 Day 35. We are HOME. As you know, my 30 year old daughter suffered an ischemic stroke on 8/8/23. This greatly damaged, her dominant side, (left her with little to no use of her right arm and hand), cognitive abilities, compromised her vision greatly, and threw her type one diabetes into a massive tailspin. You all have been so wonderful and supportive. We simply can’t thank you enough. Tate is tired and in pain, but never complains. She has been assisted the entire time, and for the most part is impressively independent. We waited until we got home to see how things would go with regard to exactly what she requires to maneuver safely. It would take me all day

to list the big, little, and everything in between items, products, clothing, supplies, and of course, the 13 medications including three life-saving medications And the items that go with those medications with reference to the insulin pump, to name every thing she needs. And again well you’ve been so loving and giving, she very much needs your help. Doctors appointments start as soon as tomorrow and they go well into November. She’ll begin all three therapies at the end of this month. If you have a dime to spare or a loving word to share, she could use that now. Posting recent pictures from Home below.

Can’t stop. Won’t stop.

#TeamTate #Tateystrong

As always, with all love and sincerity,

Tate’s mom.