We were all born bald

James & Patricia Lemberger


Patricia Lemberger has always been a hardworking and driven person. She has raised 2 beautiful children side by side with her husband James. She had worked at Kopke's Greenhouse as the Perennial manager, grower and buyer for almost 2 decades. She was finishing up her final year and beginning a new chapter in life by buying an existing thriving business called The Chocolate Caper. On June 22nd after finishing her final day at Kopke's she than headed to her new dream at the Chocolate Caper when the unthinkable happened.

 
Alexis (Patricia's granddaughter)


She had been there with her daughter Nikki who had just come back from putting her granddaughter Alexis down for a nap at the house with her grandpa James. Within minutes she heard her mother mumble, she waited and heard it again. She ran over to assist her mother; she stumbled for 3 phones finally managing to dial 9-1-1. She could tell by the numbness in her mother’s side she was having a stroke. After the ambulance arrived and took Patricia into the ambulance she became unconscious where she was sent to St. Mary's.

 

Patricia's first love, gardening

 

Later that evening the neurologist confirmed that Patti had not only had a stroke but unfortunately a rather rare one. We later learned that this was an intracranial brain bleed which started deep in the brain and happened suddenly. This certain type of stroke is so devastating that 80% of the people who have this particular stroke do even make it to the hospital, and of those 20% who do, half of them do not make it past 30 days.


Anneliese and Alexis (granddkids)

 

That evening Patti underwent a craniotomy where she had the clot that had formed in her brain removed and part of the skull which was taken out and kept in a freezer until they can later put it back in once the brain swelling has gone down.

 
Patti's support and second family


She then spent the first 3 weeks in St. Mary's ICU for which most of it she was unconscious. Than went to the regular St. Mary's room for a week. At this point she had been immobile and required a tracheostomy and peg (food tube to her stomach). She stayed in Select which is a intermediate rehabilitation center (in between phase from hospital to rehab center) for about 4 weeks. As of 9/10/2014 She has transferred to Nazareth Rehabilitation center. The staff there is wonderful and so far she seems to enjoy this facility.



 



My mother is strong and continues to surprise us daily with all that she has done. She is a survivor and a fighter. If anyone is able to make it through this and come out on top I know it is her.

 

The hairy children (Ralphie & Lola) who wait everyday for their mom to come home


Unfortunately life has been harsh with my Father fighting colon cancer, who is now in remission. His brother passing suddenly around the same time my Mother had her stroke. My Grandmother Ami who passed just this last year and my other Grandmother Beverly who has already beaten cancer once and just recently had a tumor removed in her bladder (she is doing well now).

 
Patti's last hairy child Bugsy


As anyone can imagine we have had a hard time with all of this. The one great thing that came out of all of it was we have become strong as a family and all are very close.

Visiting Patti in ICU

When everything happened I moved in with my father to help around the house and put my own home on the market. Until that sells I am unable to help them financially. As you can imagine the medical bills are already astronomical even with insurance. So I have devised a plan.

 
My first selfie! Just an idea of how much hair I am willing to cut off!


Since my Mother will undergo yet another surgery in mid-November to have the piece of her skull put back on she will than have her head shaved again. I love my Mother so much I am willing to shave my entire head to support her in her journey. Here’s the catch, before I will 100% commit to doing this I want to raise $500 or more to help pay for her medical bills. I will shave my head once she has her surgery (mid-November) as long as we reach at least $500. I will post pictues of my bare head at $1000 raised and do a video at $1500, if we reach $2000 anyone is welcome to come buzz me themselves. Our goal over all is much higher than that if you can't donate please just share the link!! Whether you donate $5 or $100 we are so happy to have all the love and support everyone has shown us.

All donations go directly to my parents HSA (health savings account) Which is soley for the purpose of paying medical bills.