A online fundraiser has been setup for Emmaville's Cruickshank family after 33-year-old mum Samantha Galvin suffered a devastating stroke last month.
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On May 2 Samantha and partner Greg Cruickshank (otherwise known as 'Bo') had dropped off her son Blake in Tenterfield for football practice before heading off to visit Greg's parents seven kilometres out of town. Samantha hadn't been feeling well but by the time they arrived she had lost feeling in her left arm, could barely walk and seemed confused.
An ambulance was called and Sam was taken to Tenterfield Hospital where doctors suspected a stroke, despite her young age. The Westpac Life Saver Rescue helicopter flew Samantha to Gold Coast University Hospital where tests confirmed she has suffered an ischemic stroke and damage to her cerebellum.
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On May 15 Samantha was transferred back to Armidale Base Hospital and has started intense rehabilitation. The clot that caused the stroke is still present and doctors are trying to dissolve it with medication, however if this doesn't work it will need to be surgically removed.
In the meantime Sam and Greg need all the help they can get, given the cost of being away from home and everyday bills piling up. They usually sell firewood and do gardening to get by, but this has not been possible and won't be for some time.
Greg will need to be Samantha's full time carer when she finally comes home and will need to take care of the four children for the unforeseeable future. Their home will also need modifications to cater for Samantha's needs.
Greg's sister Kelly Cruickshank has set up a Go Fund Me page to help the family, with a modest $5000 goal. In its first fortnight $685 had been raised.
"I can't make Sam better but my aim is to relieve the financial stress this family is going through," Kelly said.