This is my new WHY. This year it's much more personal to me, this one hit real close to home, with my brother Steve at the age of 44 who suffered from multiple strokes (confirmed by test) and went without detection until he had told me, one morning while I was at work, how he was feeling, little did we know he was having a stroke, I had asked him what his symptoms were, and I knew immediately something was not right, he had lost feeling in his arm and hand, he had slammed his hand in a heavy door and felt absolutely nothing. Again, Not Normal. Not OK. He had been losing consciousness in episodes and blacking out and losing memory or not being able to recall moments in the past and being very aggitated which isn't the usual for him if you know him. He had some previous episodes he didn't tell anyone about and thought this was normal, they were not. I urged him to go to the ER or seek medical help and notify our families. He thought he would go about his day and said "later" I got to finish up work, I don't know anyone who works harder than him and is dedicated more to their customers than him, he said no need to say anything he didn't want everyone worrying, thinking he would be ok. Obviously I didn't listen, I reached our Dad immediately after speaking to him and he brought him to an urgent care since I was not near, where they transferred him to the ER in an ambulance, he was admitted and stayed for almost a week monitored, tested and under a full team of care 24 hours. He had surgery on his Carotid Artery in his neck, he does have some remnence left in his brain which will be monitored but the surgery was a success, thank god, and he was later released. He has to be vigilant everyday going forward about his health and he will be on medication for the rest if his life. Needless to say when you start feeling anything that isn't "normal", we need to raise our hands and say something. We have all learned valuable lessons through this ourselves. Never at 44 years of age would you think this could happen. He has some lasting effects from the strokes, but HE IS A SURVIVOR. Nothing worse in life than losing a family member or a near close experience. If it hadn't been for the education and awareness I've have gained over the past few years, I don't know what would have been the outcome or response, We can only imagine.
In the past, I walked because I wanted to help bring awareness and support to those who suffer from heart disease or suffered from a stroke, this runs in my family on my father's side, he and my uncle themselves have had multiple strokes and surgeries later in their lives and suffer from the lasting effects left after strokes and recovering from the surgeries they had gone through themselves.
So I am back again for my 3rd year helping to raise funds and raise awareness, because without what I have learned from the AHA, I'm not sure I would have responded the way I did, and with one more stroke, the doctors said he may not be here with us today. So Im walking for him and his family, my sister in law Amy and their son, my nephew Noah. I love them so much. Family is everything. Beyond Grateful.
I am asking for any donation/contribution you can or are able to make as this will aide in groundbreaking research, help spread awareness and keep all our loved ones, hearts beating.
Please even consider your daily coffee donation, every little bit helps! :)
I appreciate any donations made in reaching my goal, and I walk not only for my family, I walk for you and yours that we love so dearly, please do your research. This brings more awareness even if you don't donate please read and look more into the AHA and the knowledge they are offering, you can help save a life.
Much Love.
Thank you, Marie
