Raj's Fundraiser for Stroke Survivors
It was the evening of August 23, 2021. My sister and I were about to start our freshman and senior years at the University of Michigan. We were all driving to Ann Arbor when Dad got a call from a paramedic: “Your mom has had a stroke, and it’s serious. We’re taking her to Kaiser.”
Unlike my grandmother’s first stroke, this was far more severe and left her with permanent arm and leg impairment. This required her to be discharged to an acute rehabilitation facility, where she re-learned to feed herself, brush her teeth, and even walk short distances.
A month later, my grandmother returned home, so my parents took time away from their jobs to take care of her and re-equipped her condo with grab bars, a hospital bed, and alarm. They also began to cover other costs in the poststroke continuum of care – follow ups with a stroke neurologist, visits with an occupational therapist, professional caregivers, and new prescriptions.
After I graduated from Michigan, I joined a stroke recovery lab at Massachusetts General Hospital where I recruited survivors into our studies. Like my grandmother, all of them had arm impairment, and they were typically recommended to be discharged to an acute rehabilitation facility for further therapy.
However, for “Anna,” a single mother of two young children, all the costs began to add up, and she revealed in one of our questionnaires that finances had become tight. And for “Roberto,” acute rehab or home therapy services weren’t even an option. He was living in a shelter and financially responsible for his grandchildren.
Several months after I met “Roberto,” I was getting some work done at the Westin in Copley Place. It was the weekend before the 2023 Boston Marathon, and the lobby was teeming with runners from all over the world. Some of the runners who had gathered there were with Tedy’s Team – a non-profit started by former New England Patriot Tedy Bruschi. His organization aims to raise awareness for the signs of stroke, fund stroke research, and help cover costs associated with stroke treatment.
I’m no runner, but then and there, I decided that I wanted to be part of it. This Thanksgiving, I’ll be completing “The Murph Challenge”. That is 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats bookended by 1 mile runs… all in a 20 lb vest.
I’d really appreciate it if you could donate to this fundraiser. Your donation will help survivors like “Anna” and “Roberto” so they can make their comeback without worrying about how to pay their bills. Thank you for your consideration.
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The mission of Tedy's Team is to raise awareness for stroke and heart disease while supporting survivors on their journey, giving them a means for a comeback!
Tedy's Team was originally founded in 2005, when Tedy Bruschi, former linebacker for the New England Patriots suffered a stroke shortly after winning his 3rd Super Bowl and just days after returning from his first Pro Bowl. to learn more about who we are, please see our website, www.tedysteam.org.
We are honored to be part of the Official Charity Program of the TCS NYC Marathon for 2023.
New York Road Runners has allowed us to utilize their platform to elevate the awareness of the warning signs of stroke, which are best remembered by using the acronym BE FAST, which stands for:
- Balance Difficulties
- Eyesight Changes
- Face Drooping
- Arm Weakness
- Speech Difficulties - and if you notice any of those warning signs, it's...
- TIME TO CALL 9-1-1.
- Chest pain and discomfort
- Lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting
- Jaw, neck of back pain
- Discomfort or pain in the arm or shoulder
- Shortness of breath
Should you ever have any questions about your donation, please reach out to Elizabeth@TedysTeam.org.
Donations to Tedy's Team are non-refundable and fully tax deductible.
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