Cheryl needs a wheel chair.

" A note from Steve - Cheryl Austin's husband. Cheryl is the mother of Kyla and Rory and Grandmother ( Nanna ) to Cordellia, Blaze and Thalia "

Cheryl Austin was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in 2020 after several minimal strokes dating back, we believe, to late 2018. Until April 15 th 2022, she was doing well; her family could see the slow cognitive and memory changes in her daily life, and the early stages of Alzheimer's became more apparent.

April 15, 2022, was the turning point when Cheryl suffered an Intracerebral Brain Hemorrhage caused by a rupture of a major artery in the back of her head, leaving the brain cells without a nutrient and oxygen-rich supply of blood. The doctors in emergency said she had a significant stroke, and C.T. and M.R.I. scans confirmed it. Cheryl spent two weeks in I.C.U. then seven weeks in a Special Stroke Medical unit before being moved to a 24-hour Complex Continuing Care Centre where she has now been for 13 weeks and will probably be there for an extended period of time.

Cheryl has not given up the fight to survive, she has recovered the basic movement of her arms and legs, but she cannot walk. She has started to say some words but sometimes not recognizable ones. Cheryl has flashbacks to her life and cannot create any short-term memory of her present day-to-day life. She often does not know family or friends when they visit. Until last week, she had a Tracheostomy tube and was on oxygen until she decided to pull the line out, along with the neck harness; fortunately, she was fine and is now breathing well on her own with blood oxygen levels holding steady. She is also on a "G" tube for feeding and fluids direct to the stomach. This last week we offered her some food, but unfortunately, she does not quite understand the concept of eating or drinking just yet, even chocolate which was her all-time favourite.

Many people, family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours have asked what they can do to help, unfortunately in Cheryl's current condition, there is not a lot that people can do at this time, except the hospital has suggested we get a custom fit wheelchair for her specific size and requirements, with this chair we can take her out of bed, out of the room and go for trips around the care centre, and out into the garden they have there. While Cheryl has great difficulty communicating, she was able to choose the colour purple for her chair. Which will enable her to travel the halls and gardens of the Trillium Sherway Moir Care Centre and maybe one day be able to travel further.

All Donations will go towards the chair and any other medical requirements Cheryl may need in the future.

On behalf of myself and our Family, we thank you.

Cheryl and Thalia at Sick Kids Hospital Toronto.

I'm free from my Care Centre room.