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Event
Illuminate Love + Light for Melissa
Join us for a night to Illuminate Love + Light for Melissa with friends food + drink at Redwood restaurant in downtown Bethesda, Maryland. An extensive silent auction will be held throughout the evening.
The event will begin at 6:00pm in the evening on September 27, 2015.
100% of all proceeds will go toward Melissa's recovery expenses. We could not do this without your support!
Melissa's Story:
On April 8, 2014, Melissa was jogging early one evening when she suddenly collapsed and suffered from multiple brain stem strokes that left her without the ability to move or speak. Only 42 years old, Melissa was a healthy and vibrant wife and mother of two young children, and an active member of her community. She loved yoga and exercise, volunteering at her children's school, working as a partner at Shine Creative and being with her family.
She was in the Neuro-Critical Care Unit for the first 3 weeks. It was life support and touch and go for the first week. At nine weeks she was in aggressive rehabilitation and had shown much progress, but her state was considered 'Locked-In Syndrome.' She could see you, respond to questions with her eyes by blinking and with therapy she started to move a thumbs up here, a head turn there.
Now, over a year later, Melissa is at a rehibilitation hospital in Baltimore where she is receiving daily acute care therapy and nursing for every need. The good news is that she is progressing. There are some words that have been spoken recently albeit faintly, but the words are there. She is moving much more instinctively in her upper body, yet she is still generally immobile. Physical therapy continues to strengthen her towards walking and ultimately, self-reliance. It is clear to everyone who is involved in her recovery that she is further now than ever and continues to push further daily, yet Melissa's insurance company has been denying coverage that would advance her to our goal of acute care.
Recovery for this level of stroke is incredibly slow, but not impossible! Studies in neuro-plasticity prove that the brain can create new pathways of developmentbut it will take a lot of time and a lot of money. Thank you for your generosity + kindness.
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LocationRedwood Restaruant and Bar (View)
7121 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Contact
| Owner: jsarkis |
| On BPT Since: Jul 21, 2014 |
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| Stephanie Hickey |
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