Help Marci Recover from her Stroke

Marci Kowalski is a passionate woman with a  big heart and a boundless love for life and her family, furry family and friends. She also loves adventure and travel. 23 years ago she put herself through nursing school to fulfill her destiny of helping others.

Her whole life changed on October 26,2020 when she was taking care of an Interventional Cardiology patient and unexpectedly collapsed due to a life threatening Stroke. She was rushed into a 6 hour surgery where although they stopped the hemorrhaging in her brain, they gave her a 40% chance of survival.

Just 2 months before the stroke, Marci was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. She was an active woman who loved paddle boarding on the lake by her home, going hiking and traveling and taking care of her dog Duke and 2 rescue cats Frankie and Gracie. She was always there for her family, friends and anyone who needed her. Marci was determined not to let the breast cancer set her back.  She fought hard and even though she had to go through radiation, she kept working, taking care of her patients and tried not to let it get her down. She had just turned 50 a few months prior and no one could have ever guessed that this beautiful, active woman would be faced with 2 life threatening illnesses and financial devastation.
 
Marci’s stroke affected nearly 50% of her brain. She woke up in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital not being able to speak, and without feeling or movement in her arms or hands. We would later find out that she tore the meniscus in her knee when she collapsed.

Marci was transferred to a Rehab Center where for 5 weeks they worked with her diligently so she could relearn how to speak and trained her how to use her left hand and arm. Her dominant right hand and arm remain immobile to this day. Despite Marci’s circumstances, she worked tirelessly to retrain herself.  The nurses all loved her attitude and kind-heartedness.  
 
After her time at the rehab, she returned home and with the help of her Aunt relearned how to manage day to day living. 
 
Her savings have been consumed by medical bills and her living expenses, and she realized that not only was the stroke life altering but managing without income would be impossible. Marci has been financially independent since she graduated high school and this is the first time in her life where she is without income and nothing left in savings and an inability to return to work. She has reluctantly received contributions from family and friends, but has reached a tough financial situation and although reluctant, Marci agreed to have a gofundme set up on her behalf.  She would use these funds to continue getting the medical attention she needs and for her daily living expenses.  
 
It has been 6 months since that dreadful day and despite the miraculous progress, Marci has a ways to go. She is still working on her speech, reading and writing skills and her memory.  She is determined to regain mobility in her right hand and shoulder and is seeing progress. She has been walking with a torn meniscus in her knee causing a lot of pain as surgery cannot be performed until mid May. Thankfully she has completed her breast cancer radiation treatment and has been cleared of breast cancer!

Marci is determined to make a full recovery and her Doctors predict that she will. The fact that she is alive is a miracle and it has given her a renewed sense of purpose in her life.  She would love to get back into nursing and help other stroke victims get back on their feet through coaching and public speaking. 
 
On behalf of Marci, her family and friends, we so appreciate you taking the time to listen to her story. Anything you can do to help Marci would be so greatly appreciated.  She will surely pay it forward. Thanks and God Bless!