Help Joan Rebuild Her Life!
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Hello all,
I need your help and here's why. This spring I had a major debilitating stroke while at an unexpectedly young age.
I sustained multiple localized intracerebral hemorrhages on May 10, 2017. I was hospitalized in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit for 21 days with cerebral edema, brain compression and acute respiratory failure with tracheostomy and ventilator placement. My condition was very serious as the average length of stay in the ICU is three days. Life was ‘touch and go’ for a while.
I was discharged to a long-term acute care hospital and then, when I was able to tolerate three hours/day of therapy, I transferred to an acute rehabilitation stay for a total 47 days in the hospital. I’m now able to walk with a cane and live on my own, but everything takes twice as long.
My recovery, so far, has been nothing short of miraculous. I have had great advocacy and support from my family and friends. I’ve been humbled and am in awe of the out-pouring of good wishes from friends and colleagues near and far who ask me how they can help.
I've been hesitant to ask for what I really need... but truly, my biggest need is financial support. My main worry as I continue to work on my rehabilitation is the potential need to return to work before I'm ready. I am a single person living alone. I've always been very independent and want to remain that way. My family does not live in Denver.
I am working toward a return-to-work goal. However, I’ve been told by my medical team that my recovery could take up to 24 months. My doctors and therapists tell me I need to be patient. Argh! I have had no income since the stroke.
Many of you know how physical my work is, but if you don't... My career has been as a physical therapist working with severe and profoundly disabled individuals. This requires tremendous strength, balance, coordination and endurance but frankly, the jury is out on whether it will be possible for me to return to this work. So... I've cooked up the idea of renting a portion of my home to allow me to continue my rehab, while still meeting my financial obligations... however it requires a significant initial investment. I'm asking for GoFundMe donations to help renovate the basement of my home.
In June 2017, on my behalf, when I was physically and mentally unable, my sister applied for SSDI Disability. We have now learned that the typical disability application takes anywhere from 6-24 months to be processed and then approved or denied. (This article from the Denver Post explains the dysfunctional disability application process.)
If you could support my GoFundMe request by making a donation, and then sharing it with your network, I would be truly grateful. No amount is too small.
Here's my GoFundMe link:
https://www.gofundme.com/help-joan-rebuild-her-life
Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.
I'm sending you a BIG hug! Love, Joan
I need your help and here's why. This spring I had a major debilitating stroke while at an unexpectedly young age.
I sustained multiple localized intracerebral hemorrhages on May 10, 2017. I was hospitalized in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit for 21 days with cerebral edema, brain compression and acute respiratory failure with tracheostomy and ventilator placement. My condition was very serious as the average length of stay in the ICU is three days. Life was ‘touch and go’ for a while.
I was discharged to a long-term acute care hospital and then, when I was able to tolerate three hours/day of therapy, I transferred to an acute rehabilitation stay for a total 47 days in the hospital. I’m now able to walk with a cane and live on my own, but everything takes twice as long.
My recovery, so far, has been nothing short of miraculous. I have had great advocacy and support from my family and friends. I’ve been humbled and am in awe of the out-pouring of good wishes from friends and colleagues near and far who ask me how they can help.
I've been hesitant to ask for what I really need... but truly, my biggest need is financial support. My main worry as I continue to work on my rehabilitation is the potential need to return to work before I'm ready. I am a single person living alone. I've always been very independent and want to remain that way. My family does not live in Denver.
I am working toward a return-to-work goal. However, I’ve been told by my medical team that my recovery could take up to 24 months. My doctors and therapists tell me I need to be patient. Argh! I have had no income since the stroke.
Many of you know how physical my work is, but if you don't... My career has been as a physical therapist working with severe and profoundly disabled individuals. This requires tremendous strength, balance, coordination and endurance but frankly, the jury is out on whether it will be possible for me to return to this work. So... I've cooked up the idea of renting a portion of my home to allow me to continue my rehab, while still meeting my financial obligations... however it requires a significant initial investment. I'm asking for GoFundMe donations to help renovate the basement of my home.
In June 2017, on my behalf, when I was physically and mentally unable, my sister applied for SSDI Disability. We have now learned that the typical disability application takes anywhere from 6-24 months to be processed and then approved or denied. (This article from the Denver Post explains the dysfunctional disability application process.)
If you could support my GoFundMe request by making a donation, and then sharing it with your network, I would be truly grateful. No amount is too small.
Here's my GoFundMe link:
https://www.gofundme.com/help-joan-rebuild-her-life
Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.
I'm sending you a BIG hug! Love, Joan
Organizer
Joan Padgitt
Organizer
Denver, CO
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