Nancy Needs Help

Hello, my name is Steve, and my friend(s) Nancy (and Victor) Need Help.

Nancy and Vic have been friends of ours for years in Staten Island, now they are in Florida.

Nancy and Victor (48 years together) have been hit with an unexpected medical emergency. Please give a thought of helping my friend Nancy, here is her story:

Nancy Needs Help

Nancy and Victor Dolan were filled with excitement moving to Florida. They suffered through some very difficult years after losing their entire home during Superstorm Sandy, five of their neighbors drowned that night.

Florida looked new, bright, exciting.

In Florida, Nancy would continue to rescue and train Dogs, visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes; rescue cats, enjoy life. Victor would be active with a new job, and volunteering, keeping busy.

Nancy was active with the community, volunteering for several groups/causes. My friend was particularly busy with pets. Through the years Nancy rescued cats and dogs. Nancy was a member with the Staten Island Dog Club- often bringing her therapy certified ‘pupils’ to Hospitals, Schools and Nursing Homes. Victor was active also, volunteering with a local volunteer ambulance, donated time to the local high school football team, and spent decades on the volunteer Community Planning Board of Staten Island (NYC).

THEN AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS:

We plan, and fate intervenes. Nancy had a seizure.

Initially- recovery was unexpected, Victor was told: “She’ll never walk, never talk, never toilet herself, never feed herself.” Nancy’s MRI showed ‘catastrophic’ damage to the right side of her brain. The damage was ‘beyond repair’.

Life was changed.

Nancy was in intensive care, comatose. IF she became responsive at all, she would not know what happened, where she was, anything at all.

Victor obtained permission to stay 24/7 in the hospital with her. Vic left his job to remain at her side. Whether Cape Coral Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, or two Nursing Home Rehabilitation facilities, Vic never left Nancy’s side; “If she did wake up, she would be confused and alone…. I could not leave her alone." She was stable, but comatose in both hospitals. IF she 'awoke' - he had to be there.

Miraculous; PRAYERS, LOVE, LUCK

THANKS to medicine, and prayers, love, luck

-recovery is happening! Recovery has been steady.

As she 'came out of it', becoming responsive, then 'awake', Victor was there. Nancy’s ongoing recovery, in large part, is due to her own discipline and dedication. Once awake- she has done anything and everything therapists ask her to do; and then does it again. Nancy continues working on her return. Every week: less confusion, stronger, more balance.

Nancy, in REHAB with two of her dogs. THEY HELPED.

Nancy had volunteered with several groups . These people came to Nancy’s aid with massive prayers.

A friend said: "Nancy was the hardest worker we had, always ready to give time- the busiest worker bee I ever saw, I’ll gladly pray for Nancy!"

Finally, Nancy was able to go to a Nursing Home Rehabilitation Facility! .... Ultimately, Nancy progressed enough to go home, Vic providing care.

But: .... Nancy STILL needs help.

After being told: "Nancy will never walk, never talk, never toilet, never feed herself", she is now walking with a walker, talking, feeding herself, thinking clearer every week. Physically she grows stronger every week; Mentally she grows less confused every week. Showing continued improvement with her care.

The 'BUT....'

But even with insurance, there are deductibles, copayments, limitations, noncovered services to be paid for.

Limits have been met and exceeded. YOUR HELP is needed, - because she IS getting better: recovery is possible and coming, BUT with your assistance!

Monthly expenses (not even thought of before the seizure/coma) include copays for medications, $600/month, Day Care (cognitive activity instead of TV) , $300/week , and Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy, $210/week. Substantial. BUT with this care, Nancy is improving every week.

Hopeful. Improving. NOT finished yet. But- Nancy needs help:

Nancy is stable, and improving to a more active life. The unexpected and ongoing additional expenses are $2640/month.

It looks like, with continued therapy, Nancy may be close to full return over this next year! (it often takes a year or two to recover from stroke type damage), She is seven months into recovery, and improving weekly, in a few months- with therapy- who knows how much better she'll be.

We are hoping for about $2600/month to partner in her care over the next 6-12 months. Please help. If Nancy gets help, her improvement will continue.

If Nancy cannot get treatment, improvement stops. Nancy and Vic have made it this far on their own but now are in need of help.

Any donation would be appreciated. Any assistance will go only to her medical and therapy needs; without help - therapy ends; without therapy- improvement ends.

IF Nancy 'gets as good as it gets', any funding will be passed along to similar people in need. Her therapists and doctors are hopeful (and they measure improvements) that she is NOT 'as good as it gets' YET.

Thanks to all the people that have reached out and offered assistance already, and thanks to those who will help now and in the future.

Nancy IS improving.

Nancy NEEDS help.

If Nancy hits 'good as it gets'- your help will be passed on to others in need.

Nancy AFTER they said she would "never walk, never talk....etc":