Connie's Support Fund
Donation protected
On January 20th, 2016, the day started just like any other. My sister-in-law Connie woke up early and got my niece and nephew ready for school, and said goodbye to my brother Jeff, who was leaving for his job as a Detective in the NY City Police Department. With Jeff working variable hours, Connie was the main parent taking care of the kids and coordinating all their school and after-school activities. That morning, Connie noticed that her arm was a little sore, but she just thought she must have slept on it wrong.
Connie got the kids to school and went to work at CRVI where she was a Medicaid Service Coordinator. As she sat at her desk she knew something was wrong. A few minutes later, her friend and co-worker who sat next to Connie heard her crying. She walked over to Connie, but when she asked what was wrong Connie could not say anything and was unable to move.
Her co-workers called 911 and Connie was rushed to the hospital. The hospital determined she was having a stroke and doctors had to perform emergency surgery to remove a clot in her neck. We learned in the hours later that she had suffered multiple strokes affecting the left hemisphere of her brain. Connie was unconscious and on a respirator, but she was stable. However, the brain was continuing to swell and they had to remove a section of her skull. Connie was intubated, paralyzed on the right side, and unable to speak, but she was courageously fighting for her life. She recognized her friends and family but was not able to communicate. Connie was in and out of intensive care for the next 4-6 weeks including time at a rehabilitation hospital that specialized in getting patients off of their ventilation support.
After the initial hospitalizations, Connie spent the maximum time allowed by insurance (4 weeks) in an intensive in-patient rehabilitation hospital. She has been in outpatient care for the last 4 months. In May, she had surgery to put back in place the section of her skull that was removed to reduce the pressure caused by the swelling of the brain. She has made slow, steady progress and can stand and walk a short distance with some help and the support of a brace and cane. She still is not able to move her right arm and has minimum movement in her leg. She suffers from aphasia and while her ability to communicate is improving, she still struggles to articulate her thoughts. Reading also has to be relearned, and she is slowly learning to write with her left hand.
At this point Connie requires 24 / 7 care which is not covered by her medical insurance. Jeff recently went back to work and even with the help of their families and friends they need to hire a nurse during the week. The nursing service costs $1,200 a week which is more than they can afford on Jeff's salary as a NYPD Detective and Connie's disability. This expense is on top of the hospital bills which are not fully covered by their insurance.
Our goal is to raise $60,000, which would cover the nursing expense for 1 year. Hopefully by that time, with the hard work she is putting into rehab, Connie will be able to stay home alone and not need 24 / 7 care.
Please contribute what you can. Any amount will be helpful and we will be extremely grateful.
Help spread the word!
Connie got the kids to school and went to work at CRVI where she was a Medicaid Service Coordinator. As she sat at her desk she knew something was wrong. A few minutes later, her friend and co-worker who sat next to Connie heard her crying. She walked over to Connie, but when she asked what was wrong Connie could not say anything and was unable to move.
Her co-workers called 911 and Connie was rushed to the hospital. The hospital determined she was having a stroke and doctors had to perform emergency surgery to remove a clot in her neck. We learned in the hours later that she had suffered multiple strokes affecting the left hemisphere of her brain. Connie was unconscious and on a respirator, but she was stable. However, the brain was continuing to swell and they had to remove a section of her skull. Connie was intubated, paralyzed on the right side, and unable to speak, but she was courageously fighting for her life. She recognized her friends and family but was not able to communicate. Connie was in and out of intensive care for the next 4-6 weeks including time at a rehabilitation hospital that specialized in getting patients off of their ventilation support.
After the initial hospitalizations, Connie spent the maximum time allowed by insurance (4 weeks) in an intensive in-patient rehabilitation hospital. She has been in outpatient care for the last 4 months. In May, she had surgery to put back in place the section of her skull that was removed to reduce the pressure caused by the swelling of the brain. She has made slow, steady progress and can stand and walk a short distance with some help and the support of a brace and cane. She still is not able to move her right arm and has minimum movement in her leg. She suffers from aphasia and while her ability to communicate is improving, she still struggles to articulate her thoughts. Reading also has to be relearned, and she is slowly learning to write with her left hand.
At this point Connie requires 24 / 7 care which is not covered by her medical insurance. Jeff recently went back to work and even with the help of their families and friends they need to hire a nurse during the week. The nursing service costs $1,200 a week which is more than they can afford on Jeff's salary as a NYPD Detective and Connie's disability. This expense is on top of the hospital bills which are not fully covered by their insurance.
Our goal is to raise $60,000, which would cover the nursing expense for 1 year. Hopefully by that time, with the hard work she is putting into rehab, Connie will be able to stay home alone and not need 24 / 7 care.
Please contribute what you can. Any amount will be helpful and we will be extremely grateful.
Help spread the word!
Organizer and beneficiary
Bob Conover
Organizer
New Windsor, NY
Jeffrey Conover
Beneficiary