Helping The Long Journey For Todd

It saddens me to announce that on April 4, Todd Grant had suffered a massive stroke. Todd was diagnosed over 10 years ago with Atrial fibrillation (also called A-Fib or AF) which is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. His stroke occurred when a blood vessel that carried oxygen and nutrients to his brain that blocked by a clot... When his part of the left brain died from lack of blood flow, the part of the body it controls is affected. Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems. Currently Todd has no feeling on his right side of body causing Paralysis, which is a common outcome of stroke, often on one side of the body (hemiplegia). Paralysis may affect only the face, an arm or a leg, or it may affect one entire side of the body and face. Todd also suffers from Aphasia, which is not a disease, but a symptom of brain damage. It is most commonly seen in adults who have suffered a stroke. Todd has been able to respond well to commands and is also able to say yes and no. Which is truly amazing. As you most of you Todd is my true rock in life as my best friend. Todd is more than a friend. He’s my family, my partner-in-crime, my other half. He knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I like, what I love, what I hate. He applauds my passions and tolerate my faults. He’s there for me, always. And it’s not always about what we say, or what we do – because Todd, by yourself, is enough. Todd, with his smile, his laugh, his friendship – it’s more than I deserve. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’re stronger than ever. Because there’s no me without you. He’s part of me – my life, my family, my entire world to see him in this state has been the most heart-breaking thing I have ever had to deal with along with his two amazing kids, Krista and Brandon. Those of you that know him knew he had a heart of gold and is one of the most straight forward people you will ever meet. He was an extremely hard worker and loved his job as a truck driver. As he would say he got to drive Tonka trucks all day.

Unfortunately, although Todd was working, he did not have insurance. It was not offered due to him being a sub-contractor. We have been trying to work with state insurance to be able to get his hospital stay covered and get him into a Stroke Rehabilitation Center, but state insurance only covers so many things unfortunately. As of today, we had been offered for one place that doesn’t have the greatest reviews and in Todd’s state he will need a very long extensive therapy and the state insurance does not pay for a long rehabilitation. At most we are looking for them to cover 1-2 weeks when he will need more than 3 months of intense therapy not to mention the after-care when he comes home along with some modifications on the house to accommodate such things as a wheelchair etc.

Between his parents, his kids and myself the cost will be extremely draining on all of us and still won’t cover everything. Todd is never been a person to ever let anyone carry his burden and he probably would never agree to even this. But as his family and I have discussed none of us our capable of affording all this. But we want the best for Todd.

Any amount helps us immensely and we are just very thankful if you would please keep Todd in your prayers for this long journey ahead of him.