Sonya Valenzuela and Family

Please share our story to help us reach our goal and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contribution and continued prayers.

Our mother's medical journey has just began and she will need to learn to talk, eat, walk and be independent again.

On October 13, 2023 our lives changed. It was 9:30 PM, as I was getting my children ready for the night to end. I got a phone call from my mom's phone, it was her boyfriend. "Get over here!" I could hear heavy breathing. Without any explanation I grabbed my keys and ran out the door. On the way there I prepared myself not knowing what it could be.

I arrived to see a fire truck outside my mom's house. Ran in and seen my mom was laying on the ground unable to move or talk. I knew it was serious because she is incredibly strong and does not go down easy in any situation. The ambulance arrived and they took her out on a tarpaulin quickly.

We were headed to the nearest hospital where they quickly determined she was having a severe hemorrhagic stroke. I held on to her and said, "Everything is going to be ok Mom, don't be scared. God will take care of you." She kept trying to whisper to me "Help me, Help me."

One nurse asked me to step out and asked if she could give me a hug. I asked why? Is my mom going to be ok? What does this mean? She said, "It's really bad." I started to break down and quickly reminded myself that God is here and there is nothing too hard or too big for our God.

We were now all headed to another hospital that had a higher level of care. I arrived to see my mom had lost consciousness but was moving her right hand as if she was very agitated. They then took another image to find out that the bleed was getting worse. I am not sure why but it took a few hours and she finally got transferred to another unit within the hospital. The Neuro Surgical Unit. We were asked to consent to her having brain surgery and told to start thinking about 'her value of life'. I said, "Wait, if you do surgery can't it kill her?" Dr. Hall said that was our only option.

I had so many questions but knew there wasn't any time to waste. I left it in God's hands and signed the consent, the surgeon allowed me to pray with him.

This is now 4:30 AM and I am praying on my knees for God to save her. At 7:20 AM they brought her in to the room. On a ventilator and in a coma. The doctor said surgery went well and now we wait.

There were complications.

2 days later while still in a coma she had to get a tube placed through her ribs to drain fluid from around her lung. I was so upset for her and had so many questions why this had happened, knowing this was not part of her condition.

I seen her eyes open on day 4. I was so excited I started crying and telling her how much we all love her and how God saved her. She wasn't able to stay awake for long, we learned quickly that she could not use her left side. Not even look to her left.

Day 5 I learned she could write a few words, this brought us joy since she was unable to speak.

Day 6 was very hard for us all, she was removed from the ventilator only to be re-intubated 6 hours later. She was sedated and now back on life support.

Day 10 the doctor performed a tracheotomy along with a feeding tube to her stomach to lessen the risk of ventilator pneumonia. Sadly, she still got pneumonia and was treated. After 2 weeks of the ICU she was moved by ambulance to an LTAC (Long term acute care) hospital. This is where she had her 53rd birthday.

She remains stable and is beginning therapy to try to be removed from the trach tube in her throat. It is an extremely challenging process.

Day 19 Speech therapy placed a speaking valve on her so we could hear her voice again!

Day 23 Still unable to look to the left or use her left side at all. Therefore, she cannot get up to use the restroom. She still feels like she is starving. She is doing therapy to learn to swallow and clear her throat enough to consider removing the trach.

This is only the beginning to the long road ahead of us.

Our mother is the strongest woman we know. We want to be able to continue all the love and support so she doesn't have to do it alone.

Our family resources are limited right now. Any money will go to her rent, utilities, family support, home modifications, equipment that will support her continued health and functional restoration.

Thank you all for your understanding, compassion, and continued support.

Update week 4

Xray determined she can get the trach out and begging to try honey consistency foods. She is very emotional and wants to go home. We continue to reassure/comfort her and explain she is a fall risk since she still can't use her left side. Physical therapy can move her out of bed with a whoyer. She was able to go in a wheel chair the other day to get fresh air.

Week 5 &6 She was able to go to skilled nursing facility where she will get more physical therapy and be able to change her diet. Still no movement on the left side. Blood pressure is starting to stay stabilized.

Her moods are up and down. We were able to bring her blended up Thanksgiving dinner and apple pie. Thank you Jesus. She loves a good laugh right now, and able to wear regular clothing finally. My sisters are visiting often and give their own touch of support as well. God is good and we are here on his timeliness. I am praying hard for her to be able to walk but it's not my plan it's His. God bless you all

Update: as we approach 2 months of recovery, Mom gets a little better and better. She is still on a skilled nursing facility where she does therapy. We are getting closer to bringing her home. There is a lot of learning for us as a family and in serious of need of help such as home modifications and mobility devices. She is not able to wall or get herself over the edge of a tub to sit on a shower bench. Slowly but surely God will continue to answer our prayers and lead the way. Thank you all for reading, anything helps at this time.

Update February 6th, it has now been about 4 months she is coming home tomorrow from intensive physical therapy. She has been working hard, the left side is still not working properly and she will be in a wheelchair at home. She is unable to walk and do most things. Caregivers will be coming out to help. This is all new for us, she is ready to come home and we want her comfortable. She will continue physical therapy at home as well.