Caroline's Medical Fund
Donation protected
To our old and hopefully to be new friends. I am writing on behalf of my 26 year old daughter, Caroline Szewczyk who prior to May 8th was a vibrant, beautiful, young lady. Caroline liked spending time with the younger generations, her sisters. If it was to shoot hoops, feed babies for neighbors, cat-sit for friends, or to teach the kids how to drive. She has a heart of gold. She also worked as an OR Technician. But then came May 8th 2014, and life will never be the same for any of us ever again.
That day was when the last one of our lives as we knew it. May 8th around noon, Caroline’s sister Christine returned from school and found Caroline unresponsive on the edge of the bed. We quickly pushed her onto the bed, her lips and eyelids were blue. She would not open her eyes for anything. EMS came very quickly, Caroline at that point was taking her last breath and her heart was still trying to do its best for itself and her lungs. I, her mother, stood there watching. I understood what was happening because I work in the medical profession, but this was the mom in me watching. My own heart was breaking, this is my child. I didn’t know if she would be strong enough to pull out of this. The ambulance took Caroline to the local hospital, where they placed her on a respirator and all we had left to do was pray and pray hard. I stayed in the hospital in ICU with Caroline constantly, day and night for 2 and a half months. Caroline was diagnosed with having 2 CVA’s (strokes). One is effecting her lower left side and the other the right upper side of her brain.
One day while still in ICU about 5 and a half weeks into this nightmare, Caroline opened her eyes for the first time. The first person she reached for was her boyfriend and best friend, Vinny. She moved her hand and started to caress his face. When my mother and I saw this, we cried like babies, we were so happy. She was finally coming back to us. It was time to move out of ICU to a step-down unit. She did okay, as best as she could when you are awake with a trache and a feeding tube attached to your stomach. But she was alive. Slowly tubes came out and Caroline was ready to go to a nursing home/rehab center for physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Long and expensive work was ahead of us, but most of all, ahead of Caroline.
There is still a lot of therapy; expensive therapy. We also need a more wheelchair accessible residence because that is what is best for Caroline these days. We need help with taking care of her because she depends on others for everything; from everyday living tasks, to getting to the doctors and therapy. In December of 2014, Caroline was found unresponsive again. We had her home for 2-3 weeks and to the hospital she goes again.
I, Betsy, Caroline’s mom pray more than I ever did before. Please pray for Caroline and our family. Any donations in her name would be a big help, as they would help pay for her medical bills, physical therapy, and any other medical supplies that she may need in this situation. Any support is and will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
That day was when the last one of our lives as we knew it. May 8th around noon, Caroline’s sister Christine returned from school and found Caroline unresponsive on the edge of the bed. We quickly pushed her onto the bed, her lips and eyelids were blue. She would not open her eyes for anything. EMS came very quickly, Caroline at that point was taking her last breath and her heart was still trying to do its best for itself and her lungs. I, her mother, stood there watching. I understood what was happening because I work in the medical profession, but this was the mom in me watching. My own heart was breaking, this is my child. I didn’t know if she would be strong enough to pull out of this. The ambulance took Caroline to the local hospital, where they placed her on a respirator and all we had left to do was pray and pray hard. I stayed in the hospital in ICU with Caroline constantly, day and night for 2 and a half months. Caroline was diagnosed with having 2 CVA’s (strokes). One is effecting her lower left side and the other the right upper side of her brain.
One day while still in ICU about 5 and a half weeks into this nightmare, Caroline opened her eyes for the first time. The first person she reached for was her boyfriend and best friend, Vinny. She moved her hand and started to caress his face. When my mother and I saw this, we cried like babies, we were so happy. She was finally coming back to us. It was time to move out of ICU to a step-down unit. She did okay, as best as she could when you are awake with a trache and a feeding tube attached to your stomach. But she was alive. Slowly tubes came out and Caroline was ready to go to a nursing home/rehab center for physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Long and expensive work was ahead of us, but most of all, ahead of Caroline.
There is still a lot of therapy; expensive therapy. We also need a more wheelchair accessible residence because that is what is best for Caroline these days. We need help with taking care of her because she depends on others for everything; from everyday living tasks, to getting to the doctors and therapy. In December of 2014, Caroline was found unresponsive again. We had her home for 2-3 weeks and to the hospital she goes again.
I, Betsy, Caroline’s mom pray more than I ever did before. Please pray for Caroline and our family. Any donations in her name would be a big help, as they would help pay for her medical bills, physical therapy, and any other medical supplies that she may need in this situation. Any support is and will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Organizer
Christine Szewczyk
Organizer
Colonia, NJ