Louise Leard - Let Her Light Shine
July 26, 2019
.....Vancouver has been full of good times & lots of love;
great therapists helping with progress, warm family gatherings, glorious sunny days and old friends re-connecting, (see attached photo with friends from Whistler and St. Croix.)
April 9, 2019
.....Louise's speech is slooowwly coming back, with the help of wonderful therapists.
Here's a glimpse of her elation at the end of a great speech therapy-session.
February 14, 2019
...a wonderful Valentine's Day photo of loving, lovable Louise.
While Sally R. is in St. Croix, Jake has borrowed her NY apartment 2 blocks away from Riverside! So Louise is out of her rehab.room and enjoying 'home' life for a bit. YES!!
January 29, 2019 STORY UPDATE
... First day outside since the stroke. Louise with Jake at Riverside Park 
...as you can see - there's Hope and Happiness!
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Recap and current information:Two Months Ago - A Sad Day In December, 2018
Remember, our goal is based on research that says supporting a stroke patient costs the patient from $24,000 to over $150,000.00. Jake and Louise have only Medicare and need financial help in order to get her the best care possible. Though it takes time and money, many stroke victims can retrain mind and body and often recover huge amounts of memory, skills and mobility. All who know Louise, want this for her! It is looking like it will take years of work, and both family and professional support.
Louise has now finished a comprehensive acute rehabilitation program at Mt.Sinai Hospital and is getting sub-acute therapy at nearby Riverside Residential Rehabilitation Center. Medicare is still covering her care, and assesses the efficacy of the therapeutic approaches weekly through reports by her team of therapists. The current focus is on speech therapy and continuing daily practice walking and regaining independence.
Within a month or so, Louise will probably move to outpatient therapy and Jake will begin drawing on your monetary gifts, which have been saved for this purpose.
Background: Louise, born in Vancouver, living in St. Croix, had a massive, ischemic stroke on December 3rd, affecting the left half of her brain and part of the right side of her body. As most of you know, Louise was cared for in the St. Croix hospital for 10 days, with help from her husband, Jake and many dear friends. That, and her stubborn, joyous will to grow, work and live, have helped her do a little better day-by-day.
Louise is a yogi & a compassionate, articulate counselor, minister, artist, wife and friend. However, she has a long way to go to regain health; and still needs diagnostics and rehabilitation. Although flying off-island was a daunting task, she and Jake made it to New York for evaluation and treatment; beginning a new and expensive chapter in their lives together. They are in the states for awhile, where a top-notch team of therapists is still developing her plan-of-care and supporting her progress.
Jake and Louise have always worked in St. Croix’s community, where they fed, massaged, taught, counselled and celebrated life with all they met. Life was good, love always there for all to share in. You all have been incredibly generous, but they can still use a little help from their friends.
Here they are (below)visiting Vancouver , shortly before Louise had the stroke.
Your love and energy, translated into funds, could make the difference between success and failure in helping this strong, loving, giving woman recover her self.
Please give as much as you can, and pass it on to those YOU know who know Jake and Louise and have yet to read her story.
Blessings to you and to the Light within you,
… from Cynthia Hatfield, and other friends & family of Jake & Louise
Louise, on her birthday, 2 years ago in San Miguel, Mexico.