Together We can Make a Difference

Marianne Page and Larry Orr are no strangers to adversity.  Both suffered a spinal cord injury due to separate accidents early on in their lives; Larry over 40 years ago and Marianne almost 20. However, that hasn't held them back.  They have been fully independent and love being active and enjoy sports and recreation.  Maybe that's what drew them together.  They met in 2008 at a wheelchair tennis camp.  An instant friendship formed that blossomed into something more.  The couple was married on August 12, 2016.  Their wedding was a day full of excitement and new beginnings.  Together they left the reception full of hope and plans for the future.

Exactly one month later on September 12, 2016, their world was once again torn apart.  That morning, Marianne heard a loud noise in the kitchen and found Larry lying on the floor. He was rushed by ambulance to the Intermountain Medical Center where they found he had suffered a massive stroke.  He spent the first few weeks at IMC before being transferred to the VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City where he has been ever since.

Although medical teams responded quickly to the stroke, significant damage to the brain had occurred.  He suffered additional paralysis of his right side, speech and memory loss, and other long term effects.  He is currently working with physical, occupational and speech therapists.  Progress is slow and often like a roller coaster ride with it's ups and downs.  Larry has a long road of recovery ahead but the couple remains hopeful.

Larry and Marianne in conjunction with his doctors and therapists have set a goal to get Larry home where he can continue in his recovery.  However, this poses it's own set of challenges.  The home where they reside is older and ill equipped for the new physical limitations facing Larry.  Some of the modifications that need to be made in order to make it accessible include widening doors and hallways to accommodate a power chair, modifying a bathroom, knocking out a wall and installing a ceiling lift system to help with transfers, a ramp into the house and a new entry door.  In addition to this, the couple will also need an accessible van with an electronic tie down system to be able to transport him anywhere and leave the house.

Facing the reality of the situation and the changes that need to be made has Marianne spending hours on the phone trying to find solutions and options to get this work done.  Larry has been in the hospital way too long and is anxious to be home.