Carolyn Gower

At 5pm on March 14th 2023 Carolyn’s adult children decided to check on her after she uncharacteristically hadn’t answered their phone calls and texts for 24 hours.

They found her in bed in a delirium with a very high fever and very unwell. She was rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with the deadly flesh-eating bacteria, Necrotising Fasciitis. Her family were told that without urgent treatment she would not have survived the night.

Carolyn’s life hung in the balance for the next 2 weeks. She spent 3-4 weeks in an induced coma, had numerous hyperbaric treatments, 15 surgeries including 2 skin grafts and spent 2 months in the Burns Unit at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Carolyn is now back home in Ballarat and is undertaking a rigorous rehabilitation program including physiotherapy, exercise therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychology as she learns to walk and take care of her daily needs again, while processing the trauma she’s experienced.

Carolyn has had a challenging time financially since the death of her beloved husband Tony in 2017 and the expenses she currently faces have only worsened the situation.

These generous donations will assist Carolyn with the necessary requirements for her recovery including medications, dressings, equipment, safety rails and custom made compression garments, that are either not covered by any funding or have a very long wait time if they are.

Another important part of Carolyn’s healing is to attend the 4 day Camp Widow event in Brisbane in August. While she had already saved the money for this prior to her illness, it has now been spent on her medical needs. Carolyn’s medical team are urging her to go for the healing benefits it will bring, and the hope of doing so has pushed Carolyn to achieve some of her rehabilitation milestones quicker than expected.

For the past few years Carolyn has dedicated her

life to helping other widows and grievers across the world as a grief coach, podcaster and through her social media. While she loves to help others, she finds it hard to accept help in her times of need, however it has now become necessary.

Carolyn hasn’t been able to work for the past 4 months and it’s still unsure when she can return to her coaching business. Even when she does, it will be in a much lesser capacity for quite some time as she continues the long road to recovery.

Any donation is deeply appreciated.