A Sligo family are urging the public to support the rehabilitation of mum-of-three Claire Carpenter, who has lost all function on the left hand side of her body following a stroke.
Claire (35) collapsed at home in front of her children in February of this year, after experiencing what she believed to be a "bad headache" the day of the stroke. She was rushed to hospital where a blood clot was removed from her brain and later underwent two life-saving surgeries.
Claire’s partner Ross says that the road to recovery is a long one for Claire as a result of the challenges facing her mobility.
“The reason my family and I set up this GoFundMe was to try and get the best for Claire. She will need to go to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire so there will be a lot of transport to and from there with a wheelchair. We’ll have to make big adaptations to the house for ease of access,” Ross says in a video published on the GoFundMe page for Claire.
The campaign has raised almost €86,000 euro of its €175,000 target to date. Claire, mother to 14-year-old Luke, 10-year-old Anna and 7-year-old Zach, is currently being treated in Sligo Hospital and undergoing physiotherapy.
Approximately 7,500 people experience a stroke each year in Ireland, according to the HSE’s National Stroke Strategy for 2020-2025. 30,000 people are currently living with some form of disability as a result of a stroke.
The situation has put Claire’s family under immense pressure and has dashed preparations for Ross and Claire’s wedding that was supposed to take place in July of this year. The celebration was already postponed twice as a result of the Covid pandemic.
Instead of choosing a wedding car, the family must now contend with buying a wheelchair-assisted vehicle, Ross said.
Ross is hopeful that Claire will recover and says she is fighting the setback to her health. He is appreciative of all the support that they have received through the GoFundMe page and says it will go a long way in helping Claire and their family.
“She is a mum and she needs to be at home as much as possible for the kids and herself. This is something we will need to live with for the rest of our lives. I want to thank everyone that has supported us, no matter how small the donation is. It means so much to get as independent a life as possible for Claire,” he adds.
To donate to Claire’s GoFundMe, click the link here .
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