Help Us Raise Funds For Joanna’s Stroke Recovery

Dear Friends and Family,

 

Many of you have been following the journey of Joanna Campagna. The year 2021 has provided some of the deepest challenges a young adult could experience. She has had two very serious heart surgeries, a splenectomy, and a complete pivot in life, all at the ripe young age of 25. In January 2021 Joanna’s heart began to fail & required two valve replacements. Her Mom, Rhonda went up to be with her & advocate for her and incurred significant expenses to rent a room, to Uber, and other living expenses.

 

In August 2021, when Joanna incurred a repeat infection, and a 2nd heart surgery, her heart arrested 4 times. During that weekend leading up to her 3nd critical surgery, she stroked several times during life saving CPR. Rhonda, has been living with her since that time, renting another place & staying in hotels as Joanna has worked to recover the use of the right side of her body, and learn to speak and communicate again.

 

The family has been so grateful for your prayers and various gifts of support over the last several months while Rhonda has been assisting Jo.

 

This GoFundMe has been created to assist with the expense of recovery for Joanna’s muscle tone and gait as she continues to work through rehab. Up until this point, Joanna has relied on a foot and ankle brace that helps control her muscle spasticity. Some of her leg muscles fire all the time, while others are not receiving the signals to fire. This makes walking a challenge and leaves her susceptible to injury. In therapy, PT has been utilizing a system called L300 GO Plus. It is a software-driven system designed for people that have weakness in their knees and feet due to neuron injury (such as a stroke). It is an amazing devise that “knows” how to fire in stride with Joanna’s movement, improving her ability to walk more normally. It stimulates the muscles that are weak and makes them move (sending the signal that is broken from the brain to the leg).

 

Moreso, the research is showing that a device like this helps the brain recover too! The brain neuropathways work in a circuit. The brain sends a message, the muscle group receives the signal, and once it responds to the instructions, it sends a message back to the brain ‘telling’ the brain it has moved. So the amazing news is the ‘back side’ of the circuit is being sent to the brain, atrophy is averted, and the brain works to create “real-estate” for new neuropathways to develop to complete that circuit and begin sending signals again!

 

The family has been trying to get this device for Joanna to use every day. However, insurance will not pay for this technology. The device cost is beyond their reach, but would benefit her so greatly in her recovery. Not only will she be able to walk more normally, but she can wear her shoes again! (No more buying shoes in two different sizes!)

 

 In addition, the family has incurred and will continue to incur expenses with travel to & from Minneapolis (past & future), along with all the miscellaneous costs incurred caring for Joanna.

 

Would you consider helping us get her the needed support? If anything above the amount is raised, that amount will be applied to other assistance to promote a full recovery for Joanna.

 

Thank you for anything you can give to support them in this trying time.

 

Sincerely,

The Campagna Family