Sam Stewart Stroke recovery
- By: Natalie Dreisenstock
- Short URL: https://archive.backabuddy.co.za/samantha-stewart-5848313997906659010
- Date Created: 27 February 2024
Personal message
Sam Stewart was given 6 months to live with a 7% chance of survival when she was diagnosed with breast cancer 19 years ago.
Against all odds she won her battle and during this she fought her medical aid for access to the correct treatment and won that too, going on to form an NGO specifically helping patients with their access to medical aid treatment. This NGO is still going and has helped countless people with their access to treatment for cancer.
Sam and her husband, who have been my wonderful caring friends for many years, have been through a unbelievably tough time, having faced financial ruin during Covid. Despite many attempts to kick start their lives they have yet to reach their goal, however their love for one another has only strengthened during this period.
Sam had just found what she hoped was her ideal job, working for World Animal Protection - an international animal welfare organisation which afforded them both the luxury of joining a medical aid amongst other things and having a place of their own. They moved 19 times in two and half years, sometimes sleeping wherever they could and many times taken in by good friends for periods at a time.
Husband Allan has just started two new business ventures and is patiently building these as he has not been able to find employment despite having applied for countless positions over 3 years. They have also continued their ventures together helping cancer patients in their journeys.
Things were just starting to look positive and then Sam was struck down with a hemorrhagic stroke on the 4th of February.
It was a severe deep brain bleed on the basal ganglia, the area of the brain responsible for coordination. She lost all speech and is paralysed on her right side. Fortunately, Allan is an ex-medic and his quick response time got Sam in emergency with 15 minutes.
Sam has made some recovery on her speech but is far from able to conduct any form of business conversation, she cannot read and or spell or grasp concepts that are complex at all, she is bed bound and needs care and a lot of therapeutic interventions in order to have a good recovery.
The medical aid has not been great and took 2 weeks with an abnormal amount of pressure to finally give an authorisation for the hospital. Then the step-down facility was given facility cover with no therapies. No sense at all. Pressure on the medical aid is mounting as this is considered a PMB, prescribed minimum benefit by law and this is an ongoing fight.
These two are making their way day by day, showing fortitude, strength, love and absolute commitment to the healing process but time is not their friend.
This focus means Allan has taken his eye off his businesses and Sam’s employment is close to being terminated for obvious reasons. Allan is focused on Sam’s recovery, maintaining all communications and battles with administrators and managing friends and family as well as fighting for what are their rights.
Monies donated will be used for their survival, medical bills outside of the medical aid rates, for carers and to augment their lost revenue from working.
We are hoping to raise R300k for them, which would ease the pain for a long enough period top ensure a decent recovery for Sam which is nothing less than 8 months as things stand, but most likely upwards of a year.
Thank you for your kind generosity.
Donations
- Mar 03, 2024 - R 2 500.00 Fees covered
- "xxx ❤️💪😘🙏🏼xxx" - Anonymous
- Mar 01, 2024 - USD $ 281.38 Fees covered
- "I know you're going to recover amazingly well Sam, you are so strong and have amazing support around you from Al and others. We wish you all the best!" - Heather
- Feb 29, 2024 - R 5 000.00 Fees covered
- "We love you so much, beautiful souls!" - Anonymous
- Feb 29, 2024 - R 200.00 Fees covered
- "Get better soon Sammy. Thinking of you, and wishing you the best recovery possible." - Anonymous
- Feb 29, 2024 - USD $ 54.03 Fees covered
- "Best wishes for a full recovery" - Sebbie
- Feb 29, 2024 - USD $ 448.26 Fees covered
- "You got this Samwise!" - Brooke
- Feb 29, 2024 - R 5 000.00 Fees covered
- "I wish for you Sam Blessings, Healing and strength" - Anonymous
- Feb 29, 2024 - R 499.99 Fees covered
- "" - Anonymous
- Feb 28, 2024 - R 15 000.00 Fees covered
- "To two brave souls - strength, positive thoughts, faith and tons of love to both of you 💞" - Anonymous
- Feb 28, 2024 - R 1 000.00 Fees covered
- "I wish you strength" - Anonymous
- Feb 28, 2024 - R 500.00 Fees covered
- "" - Anonymous
- Feb 28, 2024 - USD $ 113.29 Fees covered
- "Wishing you love & strength for your recovery journey Sam! Xx" - David P
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 3 000.00 Fees covered
- "You are both true legends! Onwards upwards to Sam 2.0 🎉" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 1 000.00 Fees covered
- "Sending love" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 1 000.00 Fees covered
- "God bless you and give you strength and healing 🙏🙏🙏" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 1 000.00 Fees covered
- "Sending Sammy big love and loads of healing light! 💞💫" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - USD $ 28.33 Fees covered
- "All my best wishes 💪" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 5 000.00
- "Praying for your full recovery Sammy. Keep up the smiles and that awesome determination xxx" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - USD $ 28.04 Fees covered
- "So much love to you both xo" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - USD $ 519.06
- "So sorry to hear of this. Best wishes for a full recovery" - Dallas
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 500.00 Fees covered
- "" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 2 000.00 Fees covered
- "Thinking of you Sam and praying for a full recovery. Your strength and courage are a true inspiration." - Di Cole
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 500.00 Fees covered
- "Believing in a full recovery for our Special Sam, a true Angel warrior!" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 2 000.00 Fees covered
- "" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - USD $ 259.53
- "" - Mayor of Pringle
- Feb 27, 2024 - USD $ 112.17 Fees covered
- "" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 500.00 Fees covered
- "One step at a time x" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 10 000.00 Fees covered
- "Keep fighting" - Anonymous
- Feb 27, 2024 - R 3 000.00 Fees covered
- "Wishing you 2 amazing people strength and sending lots of love. No-one deserves a break more than you do." - Anonymous
Statistics
Fundraising target
R 300 000.00Donations to date
R 91 389.63Sam Stewart Stroke recovery Campaign
Despite facing numerous challenges, including a battle with breast cancer, financial struggles during Covid, and a recent hemorrhagic stroke that left her paralysed, Sam and her husband Allan, who have dedicated their lives to helping others, are in need of financial support to cover medical expenses and lost revenue, with the hope of raising R300k to aid Sam's recovery journey.