Help Shawn after Devastating Stroke
Donation protected
Sean aka Shawn is one of the smartest funniest people I have ever met. We met almost 20 years ago when I moved to Philadelphia for nursing school. We met in recovery. He became a friend, a person I completely trusted my dogs with and who would often dog sit and dog walk for me. At one point we were roommates.
He is one of the few who I have always kept in touch with- even after he left recovery meetings. I have a hard time trusting people and I never lost my trust with him. I’d like to think he knew he didn’t have to lie to me- that I’ve always loved him unconditionally.
In April 2022, Shawn showed up on my doorstep having a stroke . He tried to get help along the way (from his encampment near south Philadelphia Walmart) from various strangers but he couldn’t speak and people blew him off. I stepped outside my fishtown home and saw him standing there. He couldn’t speak but was trying to search for words. He just kept putting his hand to his head. I rushed him to temple university hospital emergency and they removed a clot from his brain. I still can’t imagine what he went through getting to my house. He still could use his prosthetic leg!
The stroke has left him impaired. He has no use of his left upper residual limb and weakness in his left lower residual limb. He needs a new prosthetic cause he can’t use his old one any longer. He still cannot speak well. Simple yes and no. He searches sometimes but just ends up saying. “Nevermind”. I do my best to encourage him to continue to try to find the words.
The expressive aphasia is what kills me the most and is super frustrating for him, if you know Shawn you know how much he loves telling and writing stories. He was extremely good at it. I often told him that he should write a book.
Temple transferred him to a facility in Bristol where he has been since April 2022. His Medicaid is still pending and his bills are coming in for the care (even though it’s been shitty) he has received so far. He has been threatened with “eviction” if not paid.
Shawn survived on his SSDI. It wasn’t much but he was happy and he made it work. The facility will be taking most of it, leaving him with 45$ a month to survive on.
Shawn helped a lot of people over the years, selflessly. He shared and gave to people the little that he had with no expectations. He even shoveled snow for strangers and elderly this past winter just because he never lost site of the benefits he felt from helping others. Now he needs our help. He needs to pay an extra $300/month to pay the last few months off after agreeing he could pay half now. Please consider helping him if you are able.
ultimately his goal is to be discharged to a place where he can get home health care and live more independently. We have been unable to have him transferred out of silver lake because he is still medicaid pending. He needs to be closer to his chosen family so he has the support he needs to get through each day. Please consider donating- any amount helps.
He is one of the few who I have always kept in touch with- even after he left recovery meetings. I have a hard time trusting people and I never lost my trust with him. I’d like to think he knew he didn’t have to lie to me- that I’ve always loved him unconditionally.
In April 2022, Shawn showed up on my doorstep having a stroke . He tried to get help along the way (from his encampment near south Philadelphia Walmart) from various strangers but he couldn’t speak and people blew him off. I stepped outside my fishtown home and saw him standing there. He couldn’t speak but was trying to search for words. He just kept putting his hand to his head. I rushed him to temple university hospital emergency and they removed a clot from his brain. I still can’t imagine what he went through getting to my house. He still could use his prosthetic leg!
The stroke has left him impaired. He has no use of his left upper residual limb and weakness in his left lower residual limb. He needs a new prosthetic cause he can’t use his old one any longer. He still cannot speak well. Simple yes and no. He searches sometimes but just ends up saying. “Nevermind”. I do my best to encourage him to continue to try to find the words.
The expressive aphasia is what kills me the most and is super frustrating for him, if you know Shawn you know how much he loves telling and writing stories. He was extremely good at it. I often told him that he should write a book.
Temple transferred him to a facility in Bristol where he has been since April 2022. His Medicaid is still pending and his bills are coming in for the care (even though it’s been shitty) he has received so far. He has been threatened with “eviction” if not paid.
Shawn survived on his SSDI. It wasn’t much but he was happy and he made it work. The facility will be taking most of it, leaving him with 45$ a month to survive on.
Shawn helped a lot of people over the years, selflessly. He shared and gave to people the little that he had with no expectations. He even shoveled snow for strangers and elderly this past winter just because he never lost site of the benefits he felt from helping others. Now he needs our help. He needs to pay an extra $300/month to pay the last few months off after agreeing he could pay half now. Please consider helping him if you are able.
ultimately his goal is to be discharged to a place where he can get home health care and live more independently. We have been unable to have him transferred out of silver lake because he is still medicaid pending. He needs to be closer to his chosen family so he has the support he needs to get through each day. Please consider donating- any amount helps.
Organizer
A. Hayley DiGiacinto
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA