After Massive Stroke, Former D122 Teacher Gets Support Through 'Team Gladieux' Website

The old adage that someone's circumstances just "slipped through the cracks" is no joke for a married pair of New Lenox District 122 school teachers.

Instead of taking the last few weeks before the start of school to relax and gear up for the hectic pace, Dennis and Jeni Gladieux, of Frankfort, are juggling a combination of critical health issues and facing financial ruin.

Dennis Gladieux taught sixth-graders language arts and social studies at along Cedar Road until August 2011. At that point, the district faced financial issues and cut Dennis, who wasn't tenured.  

Meanwhile, his wife, 39-year-old Jeni, is still on staff. She is a second-grade teacher at .  Like any other family caught in the economic strangle hold that Americans are facing nationwide, the couple cut back on expenses.

The bottom line was tight, but it got a lot worse six months ago when Dennis, a seemingly healthy 42-year-old man, suffered a massive stroke.

No one knew he had high blood pressure, but Jeni said she suspects that prolonged stress due to the job loss is likely to have played a role in that development.   

On a cold night in February at the couple's Frankfort home, Dennis was entertaining the couple's 3-year-old son Caius in an upstairs bedroom. He asked Jeni if she would bring up a snack.

Jeni recalled, "I went downstairs to the kitchen." While preparing a plate, she said, "Dennis came down. He was staggering and his speech was slurred. I thought he was kidding."

The realization that something was seriously wrong hit her like a ton of bricks. "I called 911, and they got there in minutes."  

Support From Teachers, Friends

Initially Dennis was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields and stabilized. The results of a CT scan showed a 7 centimeter bleed in his brain.

Although a good deal of what went on that night in the emergency room is blurry, Jeni said she can remember distinctly the conversation with the neurological surgeon. He told her that the next 24 hours were crucial.

If the bleed doesn't coagulate, "he could die," she remembers being told.

Surrounded by family members—including her sister, Rachel Hansen, of Elwood, among others—Jeni endured the heart-pounding, nerve-wracking minutes and hours that added up to 24. Dennis' condition did not worsen. She choked up at the memory.

"He made it through the night," she said.

However, he was transferred to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. It was discovered that Dennis' right side, his memory and speech were severely impacted by the stroke. He was later moved to the rehabilitation unit. All total he spent 43 days in the hospital.

While he slowly improved, Jeni stayed beside him. She used up all her sick days, but then the teachers at District 122 really stepped up to the plate, she said.

Teachers from throughout the district donated what is referred to as "Angel Days," which means they sacrificed their available days and gave them to Jeni.

"I was out the rest of the year," she said, and never lost the salary or benefits.

The teachers also hosted a collection that netted $6,000 to help with expenses, she said.

"The people at school have been wonderful," Jeni said. "They donated sick days so I could take the rest of the year off. It's been overwhelming and humbling ... He got cards (too) from his former students."

When Gladieux's neighbor, Russ Ludes, found out about Dennis, he took it upon himself to build a ramp outside so he could use his wheelchair. He also built a railing along the wall from the first floor to the second so he had support when eventually he can make it up the stairs.

With regular therapy, Dennis' condition continues to improve. He's working hard to regain his speech and the vocabulary that slipped away.

"It's like relearning the language," said Jeni, except that it's at a much faster pace. His brain is searching for the vocabulary that he all ready knows but can't quite access it. "So he's a bit confused, but his personality is the same. He has a good attitude."

Team Gladieux Donations

Because Dennis had been laid off for six months, he failed to qualify for Social Security disability. The rules stipulate that "you have to be working at least three months prior to a claim," Jeni said. And he doesn't qualify for any benefits from the school district.  

While the family might be able to deal with that, the problem now is attempting to pay for home health care once Jeni goes back to work.

"He just slipped through the cracks," Jeni said. "We went to a lawyer and they can't help us."

He needs 24-hour care, Jeni's sister, Rachel Hansen, said. The man can hardly move his right arm and he needs help moving around.

With that in mind, Hansen created a website to collect donations. She said she intends to do everything in her power to help her sister through this dilemma. 

"We did research, and we did the math. At $15 per hour for a health care worker, five days a week, eight hours a day for nine months that's about $30,000," Hansen said.

DONATE TO TEAM GLADIEUX.

The couple has no way to pay that kind of money for home health care. And the website idea is Hansen's way of tangibly assisting her sister. The bond between the two is tight. 

"Jeni is 10 years older than me," Hansen said. "When I was little our Mom would make her take me everywhere with her. I don't remember ever hearing her complain."

"I won't let her down now that she needs me the most," Hansen said.