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NTAF Community Hero: Carolyn Stehler
12/01/2009
News
Tanya’s submission
Edited and adapted by Shannon McMonagle, NTAF E-News Editor
I would like to nominate my mother (Carolyn) as a community hero for many reasons.
My appreciation started with her being a wonderful mother and homemaker, while my brother and I were growing up.
In the early 90’s (when I was in second grade), I was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease (IgA nephropathy). I was in Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio for about a week. My parents traded shifts staying with me at the hospital. Then in March of 1996, my dad had a stroke at the age of 46. My mom became my dad’s caregiver during his recovery — almost two years of physical and occupational therapy. She also had to go to work, so she could provide health insurance for us.
In October of 2004, my now husband and I miscarried our son. My parents helped us with his burial and memorial service. Shortly after my miscarriage, I found out that I was going to need a kidney transplant due to renal failure. Right away my mom said she wanted to get tested to be my (kidney) donor. (They would not allow my dad to because of his medical history.) …
In between this time, my mom and I planned my wedding that would take place on February 16, 2005. She made all of the flower arrangements and decorations for the wedding. Meanwhile, we started the testing process for my transplant. We (my mom and I) went into surgery at 6:00 am on Tuesday, August 23, 2005, at Akron City Hospital in Ohio. I was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for twelve hours following the transplant. I called my mom from the ICU — she was having the hardest time because of the anesthetic. ... My mom was released from the hospital on Thursday afternoon; I went home on Sunday afternoon. When I got home, my mom was already walking around.
My parents bought a different house, so that my husband and I could live with them until I recovered. My husband and parents went to all of my doctor's appointments following my transplant. In the summer of 2007, we all participated in the National Kidney Foundation Walk at Stan Hewitt Hall in Ohio.
My mom has always taken very good care of her family — her parents when they were dying, and my brother, Nicholas, when he passed away suddenly from a motorcycle accident on June 6, 2007. When he passed, he did not have life insurance to pay his final expenses. My parents paid for his funeral. Needless to say, not only my mom but both my parents have had a string of bad luck for the past 10 years. Both of them throughout everything— and 30 years of marriage, are still going strong.
My mother is an extraordinary woman and mother!
