Stand with Kelly-Sue in Her Health Journey

Help us help a dear friend! Kelly-Sue has always been everyone's friend, forever smiling, a ray of sunshine always having kind and uplifting words to say. She was born and raised our community and is a friend to many. Kelly-Sue worked with Nutrition For Learning to feed kids during the school week, until she kickstarted FOOD4KIDS-Waterloo Region Charity, to feed hungry kids on weekends. Neither of these organizations had a pension plan, but feeding the kids was a passion and always her prime concern!

In July 2021, life changed dramatically for Kelly-Sue after receiving her second vaccine shot when she suffered her first stroke, followed by several more over the next 6 months (9 strokes and TIA's in total), and 39 days in hospital.

She has been fighting her way back to health ever since, struggling with severe headaches, poor sight and diminishing strength. Then this past August of 2023, Kelly-Sue suffered another debilitating stroke. Having lost most of her sight in one eye and subsequently her ability to drive, her endurance and stability no longer allow her to live a 'normal' life, as Kelly-Sue's hope of ever getting better and stable enough to even work 2 or 3 days a week is now in the past.

Her medical team has not yet been able to define and treat the reasons behind her continuous skyrocketing blood pressure and the many life-changing strokes she has endured. As a result Kelly-Sue has had to resort to using many alternative treatments such as naturopathic, osteopathic and acupuncture, in addition to expensive supplements, in a desperate attempt to maintain any quality of life.

Now having depleted all her savings, Kelly-Sue continues to put on a brave front but for those of us who know her well, we realize every day is a battle!

Please help us help Kelly-Sue! Together, Bryan Hamilton, Alison O'Neil, Bev Gay Krukowski and Jennifer Birnstihl are doing what we can to help our dear friend. Any donation you are able to give would be so greatly appreciated and helpful, for this once healthy and vibrant lady. Her story in her own words are below:

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Allow me to start by saying I confidently took the vaccine to help keep FOOD4KIDS Waterloo Region up and running for the kids we fed! After 2 shots, I was left with a femoral artery occlusion and suffered 9 strokes and TIA's over a 5 month period and another stroke 2 years later. Those many strokes and TIA's have continuously battered my previously fit body, I am considered to be a marvel at how hard I am fighting to come back, 'an inspiration' I have been told. But the results have left me unable to work, while medical supplies, tests, therapies and supplements not covered by OHIP have taken all of my savings.

The last stroke in August has now robbed me of most of the sight in my right eye. The disorientation and weakness has returned more than ever, I will never drive again and I continue to struggle every day for energy and strength! I am in the Emergency dept. at least once a month and often every 2 weeks with unmanageable blood pressure.

I do keep pushing on, I have not lost hope nor my positive spirit, but having gone through my retirement savings I am not in a very good place as I struggle to make ends meet every month.

I am fighting hard, I have never been a quitter and always completely independent, never having to be reliant on anyone else. I was a health and exercise junkie, but now I am unable to do any of that. I now need financial help to pay for treatments and basic need, like rent and groceries.

Any amount will make a difference in my survival.

This is a humble ask, one out of desperation!

thank you,

Kelly-Sue