A double-stroke survival story: Caregiving on a razor’s edge

Bacon’s husband suffered a severe stroke two and a half years ago while at his cabin in Durango, Colorado. After an emergency life-flight and the sale of their property to cover mounting bills, she moved him to Oklahoma. The move was born of necessity; skilled nursing facilities were financially unsustainable, and he was determined to return home. Today, he remains bedbound, requiring daily assistance for basic needs and professional CNA care that costs the couple $5,000 monthly, an expense not covered by his Social Security.

Living in a system where insurance denials are the standard, Bacon relies on her background as a former public health director to challenge coverage decisions. Despite the strain, she manages his complex regimen—including outpatient therapy for pusher syndrome and weekend bike therapy—while balancing her own recovery from a pontine hemorrhage. Though her husband initially expressed despair, his slow progress toward standing and using a walker keeps their momentum alive. Supported by their three children, who visit quarterly for heavy manual labor, Bacon continues to work, fueled by the hope that he might regain enough independence to eventually eliminate the need for outside nursing help.