Friends and family of Nanaimo's Kori Lynch are coming together to help the recovery of the 37-year-old stroke victim.
A beer and burger night is being hosted at Alice’s Restaurant this Friday (March 28) to raise money for Lynch, who is recovering at home after suffering a massive stroke. The dollars will go toward helping the family afford therapy and the costs of living.
Both Lynch and his wife, Mary, have been unemployed since the stroke.
“It’s going to be really hard for them to even live as a small family on a disability pension,” said Betty Barthel, a friend. “I just want to ease that little bit of pressure.”
Lynch, who has been at risk of a stroke after taking a blood thinner a decade ago, came home from work with a bad headache on Nov. 23. Shortly after he was rushed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital with a stroke and later, Victoria General for a craniotomy.
Mary said she knew he was suffering a stroke when he fell off their bed and couldn't seem to push himself back up.
“I just asked him, 'sweetheart can you look up at me and smile,' and his right side of his face lit up and the left was slack,” Mary said.
Lynch is now grappling with neurological damage and visual impairment. He returned home this month to start public and private therapy.
The fundraiser is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Port o’ Fino Room at Alice’s Restaurant. Tickets are $15 and available at the restaurant, Mid Island Collision and Stone Brothers Auto Body.