Emily's Medical Support

UPDATE!!: Emily is home and making huge strides in progress! She is doing several types of therapy to get her back on track. She feels like she is almost 100% back, besides getting tired, very very easily and fighting the occasional headache. She is planning on going back to work soon, from home, and part-time. Her leadership wants her to take it slow at coming back.

MAHALO NUI for all the donations that you have graciously given. This had given the opportunity for Emily to get some things to help her focus and practice on her hand-eye coordination. She is working on scrapbooks, coloring, writing and even putting Legos together!

Again... thank you! I love to see when OHANA can pull to together to help, even in the littlest form. Steve and Emily appreciated everything we brought together for them!

Aloha Family and Friends. My name is Mahea and I am Emily's Cousin and Long time friend! A couple of years ago, Emily married my husband's cousin/one of my best friends of over 20 years! Steve and Emily have been a part of my life for a long time, and I have never seen them in a position where they would need any help. Emily has always been so wonderful to help others when she can! Emily is such a hard worker and friend and has always put her work, and her family, before herself. Now is the time to help emily, and put HER first.

On Saturday, April 22, Emily was home alone. Steve was at a class in Salt Lake and told Emily just to stay home and rest. She had just worked a full day, the day before with a splitting headache, and was not feeling good. (This is very common for Emily, as she is very dedicated to her job, and is willing to keep doing whatever task she is doing, even while in pain) That morning, she got up and started to google her symptoms, of Headache and not being able to function with her arms and thoughts. Not feeling like she could understand exactly what was happening, she was able to call her sister. Jen immediately knew something was wrong, got in her car, went to pick up Emily, and took her straight to the ER. Where doctors diagnosed her as having a stroke and started doing scans and running tests. CT Scans show that she has a brain bleed and a blood clot on the "exit" veins of her brain. There is swelling and a few things that she has been working on to get her strength and speech back while adjusting medications for blood pressure and blood thinners to help dissolve the blood clot. In the ICU she made HUGE progress, and was able to converse and use her arm! On April 29th, Emily was moved to the Physical therapy floors and got a new regular room! Meant she was on the road to RECOVERY.

On the morning of April 30th. Steve went in to sit with her (as he has done, every day this past week) and was enjoying the fact that she was doing so well. When things got scary again. Emily fell into a seizure and couldn't move, or talk, and fell very still. She was experiencing a "absence seizure", which means that she wasn't showing strong movements or shaking, but the "staring into space", type of seizure. Within minutes, her room was full of nurses and doctors, and Steve was asked to, wait outside her room. She had another scan that showed brain tissue damage and swelling again. Emily is being moved to the Critical Unit again and will be under observation for at least another couple of days.

As we all know, being in the hospital is hard on the body, the mind, the emotions, and the pocketbook! Steve has taken off of work to be at Emily's side, and Emily is "on leave" at work, until further notice. Steve does have great insurance and it will take care of the bulk, but the medical bills WILL start rolling in, to add to the stresses and anxieties that Steve is already dealing with. Now is our time, to give back to Emily and Steve, if you are able. Even if it's just $1 to help Steve get a candy bar, to eat, while he sits next to Emily, while she sleeps.

We've had a lot of family and friends ask, what can we do? How can we Help? Steve, what do you need?

This is where we can help! Along with Positive thoughts, strong prayers, and a monetary donation, if you are able! All funds will be given to Steve, so he can put them towards medical bills and "hospital food".

Thank you so much for those who have been in contact with Steve and Emily during this scary time! Steve is at a point where he just doesn't know what to do. He's nervous, scared and confused. He just wants answers! Day by day, minute by minute!

UPDATE: Emily is making progress! After her set back with her seizure, she felt defeated and super bummed out. She felt as though, she had to start all over again. She was moved back to critical care and is in transition back to the physical Therapy floor (waiting on insurance approval). She is still getting headaches, which is very common with a blood clot, but the doctors are able to help her stablalize them, so they aren't so sore. Emily is on additional seizure meds to keep those at bay too. Emily is eating and getting up from the bed!

Her therapist had had her walking, and jogging (well, walking fas..ter) and even had Emily walk backwards!! What an accomplishment!! Emily is a fighter!! She won't give up... she's doing the task... and thriving!! Day by day.

As of THIS MORNING, MAY 4TH: Emily was fighting another headache for several hours, yesterday and is pretty worn out from it. When she has headaches that bad, she usually goes into another CT scan, pretty quickly, to check on the clot. Steve is still waiting on results for that scan.

Steve is back to work, for a few hours each day. He tries to keep in contact with the hospital, while he is not there. He's been doing all he can, to care for Emily, hold the fort down, at home, and take care of himself. Trying to balance his anxieties and frustrations, are hard. Day by day....

Steve does encourage those who can visit, to go! It brings Emily's spirits up! However, she does get OVER STIMULATED, and gets overwhelmed quickly. He asks that visits are "short and sweet" ...

Thank you to EVERYONE who has donated to Emily and Steve. Please continue to share Emily's story on your Facebook and Instagrams! If you would like to donate on a different platform, like venmo, you can search him on Venmo at @steve-stockseth

Again THANK YOU to everyone, who has donated. Medical bills, hospital stays, and traveling between the hospital and home is ROUGH!!! All of you are playing a big part in Emily's recovery!

Below are a few pictures taken from her Marco Conversations. She loves seeing everyones faces on this chat! She's been able to talk to all of us, and show us her beautiful face!