Kelsey's Fight to Freedom
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Kelsey Christian is a force of nature. If you have been lucky enough to witness her thunderous laugh and see her bright smile then you already know the warmth she is capable of bringing to the lives she touches. It's demonstrated in way she walks through life with pure optimism and hope, inspiring others to do the same. It shows in the stories the tells, with every photo she takes - each image carrying a piece of her. She's a rare spirit who chooses to see the beauty in life day in and day out.
On September 29, 2016 Kelsey was going about her day at work editing a wedding she had photographed when she lost the ability to control her vision. Thinking that it was a headache, she went to get a drink of water and sit down when she lost control of the right side of her body, and the ability to control her speech and fell to the floor. It was only a few minutes, before a co-worker noticed her struggling, approached her and called 911. She was rushed to Midstate Hospital where scans concluded that she had suffered an ischemic stroke to the left side of her brain. The hospital administerd the TPA clot busting drug then life starred her to Hartford Hospital. She proceded to suffer from multiple seizures during her MRI's and had to be intebated to continue testing. 3 days later she woke up in the ICU, having caught pneumonia from the intibation, surrounded by family, friends and loved ones; but sadly no answers. She stayed in the hospital for a week undergoing an array of tests to figure out how a stroke could have happened to a 26 year old with no prior medical history, no relevant family history and who had never been in the hospital. She was sent home empty handed.
Kelsey's stroke affected her speech and motor function section of the brain. She suffered from right side weakness, apraxtic aphasia and a slight stutter when she left the hospital. Her doctors prescribed a series of medications to hopefully prevent her from suffering a stroke again. Some of the medications she will have to take for life. She sought patient rehab for her speech and continued to strenthen her motor functions through practicing her photography. By the end of December she had been discharged from speech therapy with almost full control and funtion regained. She was back in full speed at her beloved career and she was happy to hopefully put an end to a particularly hard chapter of her life.
On Monday February 20, 2017 Kelsey was at home with her loved one getting dressed for work when she notced an immediate difficulty with her speech. Symptoms persisted for about 10 minutes until they decided to go to the ER. Since she already had a history of strokes, and was undergoing similar symptoms as the previous stroke, the TPA - a time sensitive drug, was administired again. Kelsey was then transported to Hartford Hospital for the second time where she awaited MRI results determining what was happening. The scan showed that Kelsey had suffered an acute ischemic stroke, meaning the stroke had happened sometime in the last one to two weeks.
Kelsey felt heartsick. There weren't any strong results from the last tests in September and there wasn't much further room to explore for this stroke. Doctors couldn't explain why the symptom presented itself after the fact and were at a point where they were grasping at straws. After a three day hospital stay with more testing, Kelsey was sent home again - this time with an adjusted list of medications and a hope for the best. She thought she had undergone her final struggles until she discoverd that her most important medication to now take was not covered under her insurance.
Kelsey's favorite animal is an elephant. It is well known amongst her family and friends and suits her for her strength and compassion. Despite what has happened Kelsey has always remained brave in the face of uncertainty and fear and never gives up. Sometimes the most difficult things happen to those who are strong enough to overcome them and Kelsey have overcome them twice - each time with a stoic demeanor and a joke or two. Kelsey has always taken pride in her good heart and her treatment of others in need, and now it's time we show her support. Show her that she is not alone in her fight. A fight to recovery and good health. Any funds donated will go towards a laundry list of medical bills, doctors appointments, further medical testing and a lifetime of medications to take. We want to lighten one load that Kelsey has to carry by helping financially. We want her to focus on her mental health and feel like a 26 year old; not afraid to live her life.
On September 29, 2016 Kelsey was going about her day at work editing a wedding she had photographed when she lost the ability to control her vision. Thinking that it was a headache, she went to get a drink of water and sit down when she lost control of the right side of her body, and the ability to control her speech and fell to the floor. It was only a few minutes, before a co-worker noticed her struggling, approached her and called 911. She was rushed to Midstate Hospital where scans concluded that she had suffered an ischemic stroke to the left side of her brain. The hospital administerd the TPA clot busting drug then life starred her to Hartford Hospital. She proceded to suffer from multiple seizures during her MRI's and had to be intebated to continue testing. 3 days later she woke up in the ICU, having caught pneumonia from the intibation, surrounded by family, friends and loved ones; but sadly no answers. She stayed in the hospital for a week undergoing an array of tests to figure out how a stroke could have happened to a 26 year old with no prior medical history, no relevant family history and who had never been in the hospital. She was sent home empty handed.
Kelsey's stroke affected her speech and motor function section of the brain. She suffered from right side weakness, apraxtic aphasia and a slight stutter when she left the hospital. Her doctors prescribed a series of medications to hopefully prevent her from suffering a stroke again. Some of the medications she will have to take for life. She sought patient rehab for her speech and continued to strenthen her motor functions through practicing her photography. By the end of December she had been discharged from speech therapy with almost full control and funtion regained. She was back in full speed at her beloved career and she was happy to hopefully put an end to a particularly hard chapter of her life.
On Monday February 20, 2017 Kelsey was at home with her loved one getting dressed for work when she notced an immediate difficulty with her speech. Symptoms persisted for about 10 minutes until they decided to go to the ER. Since she already had a history of strokes, and was undergoing similar symptoms as the previous stroke, the TPA - a time sensitive drug, was administired again. Kelsey was then transported to Hartford Hospital for the second time where she awaited MRI results determining what was happening. The scan showed that Kelsey had suffered an acute ischemic stroke, meaning the stroke had happened sometime in the last one to two weeks.
Kelsey felt heartsick. There weren't any strong results from the last tests in September and there wasn't much further room to explore for this stroke. Doctors couldn't explain why the symptom presented itself after the fact and were at a point where they were grasping at straws. After a three day hospital stay with more testing, Kelsey was sent home again - this time with an adjusted list of medications and a hope for the best. She thought she had undergone her final struggles until she discoverd that her most important medication to now take was not covered under her insurance.
Kelsey's favorite animal is an elephant. It is well known amongst her family and friends and suits her for her strength and compassion. Despite what has happened Kelsey has always remained brave in the face of uncertainty and fear and never gives up. Sometimes the most difficult things happen to those who are strong enough to overcome them and Kelsey have overcome them twice - each time with a stoic demeanor and a joke or two. Kelsey has always taken pride in her good heart and her treatment of others in need, and now it's time we show her support. Show her that she is not alone in her fight. A fight to recovery and good health. Any funds donated will go towards a laundry list of medical bills, doctors appointments, further medical testing and a lifetime of medications to take. We want to lighten one load that Kelsey has to carry by helping financially. We want her to focus on her mental health and feel like a 26 year old; not afraid to live her life.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alyssa R. McDermott
Organizer
Waterbury, CT
Kelsey Christian
Beneficiary