Stroke Survivor Recovery Expenses
My name is Jennifer Saake. On October 25, 2011, at age 39, homeschooling mom of three kids, I went to a chiropractor with a nasty headache (since that a normal thing I'm told chiropractors can help with). I walked in under my own power, left unconcious, by ambulance, not expected to make it to the hospital alive!
In the course of my neck adjustment, a verterbal artery (back of the neck) was severelly torn, causing two massive brain bleeds (strokes) right there on the treatment table. I (obviously) did survive, much to the surprise of all my doctors, but experienced 4 additional strokes over the next month, as that artery tried to heal and kept creating and throwing clots. Finally, on Thanksgiving morning, 2 compassionate care (not FDA approved because they are so rare, but last ditch efforts to attempt to save my life) surgeries were preformed and I have not had a stroke since.
I was in hospitals for nearly two months and still require ongoing therapy to this day. My kids lived with grandparents for 8 months then returned home and were transitioned to traditional classrooms. It took much of that first year to re-learn how to walk, though I still typically need a cane or walker and sometimes a chair. I was legally blind for many months, am still significantly hearing impaired, lost my ability to drive and much more.
It was with great shock that we learned that not only did my "doctor" not carry any kind of insurance, but he left the country (avoiding any legal or financial consequences) after my accident. I know he did not set out to hurt me with vidictive motives, but he DID cause great trauma to both my body and to our family.
And now we are left with an estimated 1 - 1.5 MILLION in stroke-related expenses, some that our personal health insurances have picked up, much that they won't, over the course of my lifetime. My husband is an incredible man, hard worker, great provider, but I know that I have pretty well drained all he had so carefully saved and the expenses just keep coming. He drives OLD vehichles and we are about to put our oldest into college. I would like to actually help contribute to our family instead of only being a constant drain. After having great success with a very small GoFundMe specific project, I thought it might be worthwhile to put our monster, long-term need "out there". Feel free to ask questions, watch the attached video, or learn more of our story at www.StrokeOfGrace.blogspot.com . Thank you!
