Help Steph G. Recover from her Stroke
Donation protected
On Sunday, May 5th, 2019, Steph’s weekend was coming to a close like any other weekend. She had celebrated her best friend’s birthday, studied for her college finals, and had just ordered Buffalo Wild Wings (her favorite) with her boyfriend. She had only complained of slight uncomfortableness during the weekend- relating them to the stress due to end of her junior year at Illinois State University.
This weakness grew to the point where, by the afternoon, May 5th, Steph fell to the floor, attempting to crawl back into bed, until her boyfriend, Trever, saved her life. By coming into her bedroom to check on her, he had noticed that she was on the floor with obvious pain and little-to-no movement. Moments before, she had said that she was just going lay down. Trevor and her roommates, Nikki, Danielle, and Kate decided that they should get Steph to the hospital right away, so they quickly put her into the car. Luckily, the Advocate Bromen Emergency Room was only minutes away.
Upon receiving calls that Steph was at the hospital , her family drove as quickly as they could from the Chicago Suburbs to Bloomington , IL. Steph was alive, but the right side of her body was completely paralyzed. Hours of testing and several CAT scans revealed that what Steph experienced was Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: in other words, a stroke. Extensive blood clotting in the veins of her brain and other important organs were very frightening. Ischemic strokes occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow.
About six days later, Steph got the all-clear to be moved to the rehabilitation hospital, Rush Stroke Center in Chicago, where she would begin intensive physical and occupational therapy to start the journey of regaining use of the damaged brain.
By day one of therapy, she was able to draw pictures with her left hand.
By day two, Steph could start to form small phrases.
Today, she works on regaining her full speech and physical abilities. She is regaining movement day by day, but it could take many months for her to fully relearn the tasks that used to take no thought at all. She will need to continue with outpatient therapy upon being released from the hospital.
Steph is unable to work this summer to help pay for Illinois State University, but we're all pitching in to get her where she needs to go. After all, an Illinois State Student Body government position is waiting for her when she's ready! Her Chi Omega sisters and Illinois State friends miss her dearly, as well!
On top of the medical bills and Steph’s missed work, her parents have been working long, difficult hours a week just to maintain their own bills, and took time off to take care of Steph in the hospital. Victor and Maria Guerrero are the hardest working parents we know, going to any length to be there and provide for their children.
With the money raised, we hope to cover Steph’s medical expenses and also help her family make up for the time they have lost working. Furthermore, the average cost for outpatient stroke rehabilitation services and medications the first year post inpatient rehabilitation discharge is $17,081. The corresponding average yearly cost of medication is $5,392, while the average cost of yearly rehabilitation service utilization is $11,689.
This experience has forever changed the Guerrero family, but they are beyond grateful for the love, prayers, and support they’ve already received, from the hospital visits of family and friends and of course to Steph’s boyfriend, Trevor and family. There aren't words to express how much it means every time someone contributes to or shares our fundraiser; Steph and her family have a long journey ahead of them, but we are sure it is amazing to be surrounded by such a loving and supportive community along the way. (Her Chi Omega sisters send their biggest thank you hugs as well!! ;)
This weakness grew to the point where, by the afternoon, May 5th, Steph fell to the floor, attempting to crawl back into bed, until her boyfriend, Trever, saved her life. By coming into her bedroom to check on her, he had noticed that she was on the floor with obvious pain and little-to-no movement. Moments before, she had said that she was just going lay down. Trevor and her roommates, Nikki, Danielle, and Kate decided that they should get Steph to the hospital right away, so they quickly put her into the car. Luckily, the Advocate Bromen Emergency Room was only minutes away.
Upon receiving calls that Steph was at the hospital , her family drove as quickly as they could from the Chicago Suburbs to Bloomington , IL. Steph was alive, but the right side of her body was completely paralyzed. Hours of testing and several CAT scans revealed that what Steph experienced was Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: in other words, a stroke. Extensive blood clotting in the veins of her brain and other important organs were very frightening. Ischemic strokes occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow.
About six days later, Steph got the all-clear to be moved to the rehabilitation hospital, Rush Stroke Center in Chicago, where she would begin intensive physical and occupational therapy to start the journey of regaining use of the damaged brain.
By day one of therapy, she was able to draw pictures with her left hand.
By day two, Steph could start to form small phrases.
Today, she works on regaining her full speech and physical abilities. She is regaining movement day by day, but it could take many months for her to fully relearn the tasks that used to take no thought at all. She will need to continue with outpatient therapy upon being released from the hospital.
Steph is unable to work this summer to help pay for Illinois State University, but we're all pitching in to get her where she needs to go. After all, an Illinois State Student Body government position is waiting for her when she's ready! Her Chi Omega sisters and Illinois State friends miss her dearly, as well!
On top of the medical bills and Steph’s missed work, her parents have been working long, difficult hours a week just to maintain their own bills, and took time off to take care of Steph in the hospital. Victor and Maria Guerrero are the hardest working parents we know, going to any length to be there and provide for their children.
With the money raised, we hope to cover Steph’s medical expenses and also help her family make up for the time they have lost working. Furthermore, the average cost for outpatient stroke rehabilitation services and medications the first year post inpatient rehabilitation discharge is $17,081. The corresponding average yearly cost of medication is $5,392, while the average cost of yearly rehabilitation service utilization is $11,689.
This experience has forever changed the Guerrero family, but they are beyond grateful for the love, prayers, and support they’ve already received, from the hospital visits of family and friends and of course to Steph’s boyfriend, Trevor and family. There aren't words to express how much it means every time someone contributes to or shares our fundraiser; Steph and her family have a long journey ahead of them, but we are sure it is amazing to be surrounded by such a loving and supportive community along the way. (Her Chi Omega sisters send their biggest thank you hugs as well!! ;)
Organizer and beneficiary
Celine Elizabeth
Organizer
Normal, IL
Victor Guerrero
Beneficiary
