Help Cathie Heal
Donation protected
Dear Friends and family of Cathie Austin,
It’s been a while since we’ve posted an update on Cathie’s progress. Thanks to your generous support last year as well as helping hands and positive thoughts, Cathie was able to return home safely from Grenada where she suffered a severe and life-debilitating stroke in April 2019, and then launch a long journey of healing and recovery at home with her family. The funds previously raised helped transport Cathie from Grenada to Florida for emergency and stabilizing medical care, and then transfer her to New Hampshire for continued treatment and rehabilitation. It also financially helped keep Cathie, Stephen, and Nick in their home while Cathie gained strength and began her recovery.
Over the last 8 months, Cathie has undergone hundreds of hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The therapies have helped her in some areas more so than others. She has progressed from non-mobile, to walking with assistance, to walking un-assisted. She takes walks and can do some light household chores and basic self-care. Cathie remains unable, however, to engage in many of the day-to-day activities of a “normal” life, such as work, mom-duties, cooking, reading, speaking, driving, and so many other things we do without a second thought. Her illness has also been very isolating for her. She has not regained much of her speech capacity, cannot write, and continues to suffer cognitive challenges. Because of her severe and permanent disability, Cathie is no longer able to work and was terminated from her employment as a speech pathologist at LRGH last fall. Despite these challenges, Cathie remains hopeful and determined to regain more of her motor and speech skills and return to the productive and active life she led before her stroke.
And here’s where things get interesting. A physician at a U.S. neurological medical center that was recently featured on “60 Minutes ” has successfully treated stroke patients by using an anti-inflammatory medication typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The physician discovered that, administered appropriately to stroke patients, the treatment can reopen parts of the brain that had become dormant as a result of stroke. While there is no guarantee that this treatment will work for Cathie – 80% of patients treated report at least some level of improvement, and a small portion of that group reports vast changes – Cathie seems to fall into the sweet spot of treatable candidates. The treatment is considered “off-label” since it’s an approved arthritis and not stroke therapy (it’s not experimental or trial). Because it’s not yet approved as a traditional stroke therapy by the FDA, it also is not covered by Cathie and Steve’s health insurance. It involves 2 pricey injections of $7,600 each as well as a travel to and from and a 1-week medical stay at the medical center.
Cathie and Stephen have considered this treatment option thoroughly and Cathie wants to go for it. She and Stephen had a telephone consultation with the medical facility, and not only did they determine that Cathie would be eligible, but that she would be an excellent candidate who stands a very good chance for improvement. Funds dependent, Cathie can go as soon as she can afford the treatment.
I have created this GoFundMe Campaign to raise $19,000 for Cathie’s medical treatment and medical stay. In addition to this campaign, a group of Cathie’s friends are discussing other fundraising events.
If you cannot help monetarily but can and want to help in other ways, please reach out to me via this campaign link. We will help find you something you CAN help with! We need organizers, techies, strategizers, crafters, goods and services donators --- there is no shortage of things to help with.
Cathie, Stephen, and Nick need your help again so Cathie can receive these treatments and have a chance to get her life back. Can you help? No amount is too small. Sharing helps tremendously. Good vibes and healing thoughts are welcomed and requested by this loving family. We got Cathie home. Now let’s get Cathie healed. Let’s do this!!!
It’s been a while since we’ve posted an update on Cathie’s progress. Thanks to your generous support last year as well as helping hands and positive thoughts, Cathie was able to return home safely from Grenada where she suffered a severe and life-debilitating stroke in April 2019, and then launch a long journey of healing and recovery at home with her family. The funds previously raised helped transport Cathie from Grenada to Florida for emergency and stabilizing medical care, and then transfer her to New Hampshire for continued treatment and rehabilitation. It also financially helped keep Cathie, Stephen, and Nick in their home while Cathie gained strength and began her recovery.
Over the last 8 months, Cathie has undergone hundreds of hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The therapies have helped her in some areas more so than others. She has progressed from non-mobile, to walking with assistance, to walking un-assisted. She takes walks and can do some light household chores and basic self-care. Cathie remains unable, however, to engage in many of the day-to-day activities of a “normal” life, such as work, mom-duties, cooking, reading, speaking, driving, and so many other things we do without a second thought. Her illness has also been very isolating for her. She has not regained much of her speech capacity, cannot write, and continues to suffer cognitive challenges. Because of her severe and permanent disability, Cathie is no longer able to work and was terminated from her employment as a speech pathologist at LRGH last fall. Despite these challenges, Cathie remains hopeful and determined to regain more of her motor and speech skills and return to the productive and active life she led before her stroke.
And here’s where things get interesting. A physician at a U.S. neurological medical center that was recently featured on “60 Minutes ” has successfully treated stroke patients by using an anti-inflammatory medication typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The physician discovered that, administered appropriately to stroke patients, the treatment can reopen parts of the brain that had become dormant as a result of stroke. While there is no guarantee that this treatment will work for Cathie – 80% of patients treated report at least some level of improvement, and a small portion of that group reports vast changes – Cathie seems to fall into the sweet spot of treatable candidates. The treatment is considered “off-label” since it’s an approved arthritis and not stroke therapy (it’s not experimental or trial). Because it’s not yet approved as a traditional stroke therapy by the FDA, it also is not covered by Cathie and Steve’s health insurance. It involves 2 pricey injections of $7,600 each as well as a travel to and from and a 1-week medical stay at the medical center.
Cathie and Stephen have considered this treatment option thoroughly and Cathie wants to go for it. She and Stephen had a telephone consultation with the medical facility, and not only did they determine that Cathie would be eligible, but that she would be an excellent candidate who stands a very good chance for improvement. Funds dependent, Cathie can go as soon as she can afford the treatment.
I have created this GoFundMe Campaign to raise $19,000 for Cathie’s medical treatment and medical stay. In addition to this campaign, a group of Cathie’s friends are discussing other fundraising events.
If you cannot help monetarily but can and want to help in other ways, please reach out to me via this campaign link. We will help find you something you CAN help with! We need organizers, techies, strategizers, crafters, goods and services donators --- there is no shortage of things to help with.
Cathie, Stephen, and Nick need your help again so Cathie can receive these treatments and have a chance to get her life back. Can you help? No amount is too small. Sharing helps tremendously. Good vibes and healing thoughts are welcomed and requested by this loving family. We got Cathie home. Now let’s get Cathie healed. Let’s do this!!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Julie Sforza-Smith
Organizer
Gilmanton, NH
Stephen Austin
Beneficiary