Support Maureen Schilling's Stroke Recovery

Hello all, my name is Maureen Schilling, Technical Recruiter, Westminster, CO.

I was laid off in January 2024 and have applied to over 200 to 300 jobs in the last few months.

Being big into Tech here locally in Westminster, CO since 2012. On May 13th, 2024 I arrived in Boulder, CO for the start of BSW 2024!! With high hopes of making a connection to hopefully a new recruiting role O.O

It was a beautiful Monday morning, the Flatiron mountains gleaming with snow, a lovely start to a very unfortunate day. I had the very brief opportunity to meet one of the morning speakers, Katie Johnson, after her and her partner in crime's fantastic presentation; before heading out to catch as many presentations as possible for that day.

I arrived home in Westminster, CO at about 2:30 pm that Monday, and I picked up my kids at 3:45 pm, again, a fairly normal day so far. After I picked up my kids(15 and 17) we arrived home. They noticed my speech was slurred and I could not form understandable communication...

I was having a Stroke right in front of their eyes. They were very scared and called 911. I was whisked to North Suburban Free Standing Medical Clinic near my house. After they confirmed I was having a Nontraumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage - a subtype of a Stroke. They whisked me to Swedish Medical Center and scheduled me for Brain Surgery that week. I was admitted to Swedish that same Monday and had Brain surgery by Wednesday. Not quite the week I had intended. :/

The staff at Swedish is top-notch, and everyone demonstrated a high level of overall knowledge and patient care.

Meanwhile, my Ex rushed over to be with our kids while I was not able to provide for them at the time.

Knowing the warning signs of a stroke and early intervention can help with how F.A.S.T. and overall how Well you can recover(see attached F.A.S.T. guide for the signs). If you've met me, you already know, that not a lot keeps me down and this stroke was not going to either.

I immediately started rehab in the hospital the next day. I was told I had a brain split and for about 4 days, I lost ALL peripheral vision in my left eye. It was crazy to experience, it was a bit of a Twilight Zone episode for me as I could no longer trust "my BRAIN or what it was seeing" :/

I entered an inpatient rehab center by that Friday. I had 4 therapies a day: Speech, Occupational, and 2XPhysical. It was intense but I saw improvement within days.

Regardless of your age or lifestyle,(I'm 51 and do Yoga daily) a stroke is something no one expects or talks about much these days, to be honest. Talk to your doctor as having a brain injury is something you DO NOT want!

Fast forward to June 6th, 2024, I was released and able to come home. It was long but I feel I am doing well. I was able to secure Medicaid/Medicare for the hospitals however I have several follow-up appts where the doctor/Clinic does not accept Medicaid/Medicare. So here I am asking for anything if you can spare it. I know we are all strapped in this lovely economy :(

So whatever you can give, I thank you!

I am still actively looking for a new recruiting role!!!

7/2024 UPDATE

Thanks to all who have donated, I feel very blessed! I am still on the path to recovery but doing very well. I have been cleared of any deficits from my stroke and now back to looking for work!