Bell Pay It Forward Givers

Carla Deibert, Josh Deibert and other Bell Bank employees

Fargo, North Dakota

Recipients

Lea Vacha

The Need

Lea Vacha was leaving dinner with two close friends when her life changed in an instant. As the friends walked to their vehicles, Lea stumbled and fell. Her friend Kristy recognized the signs of a stroke, called an ambulance and helped get Lea immediate medical attention.

Doctors later told Lea’s family that she would not have survived if help had arrived only a few minutes later. Lea underwent surgery three times to remove a clot after suffering a thrombotic stroke. The next day, she experienced a second stroke, this time a hemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

The strokes affected Lea’s ability to walk, speak and use one of her arms. She began an intense recovery that included three hours of therapy each day. When her insurance benefits reset in January, the number of covered therapy visits became limited. Lea and her family began paying out of pocket for occupational therapy to help her regain movement in her arm.

The Impact

Lea’s longtime friend Charlene Glur knew Bell Bank’s Pay It Forward program could help. She contacted Bell employees Carla Deibert and Carla’s husband, Josh, who had known Charlene and Lea through their children, schools and youth sports. Carla then went a step further, inviting additional Bell employees to support Lea.

Charlene and Lea have been best friends since they were 12. Carla described Lea as Charlene’s “person,” the friend who has remained by her side through every stage of life. After learning about Lea’s strokes, Carla wanted to help someone known for her kind heart and the care she has shown others.

The Pay It Forward funds are helping Lea’s family cover expenses as she continues therapy and works to regain her independence. Knowing some of those costs are covered has reduced the family’s financial stress and allowed them to give more attention to Lea’s recovery.

Lea continues to make significant progress. She has regained her ability to walk and speak and is working to restore movement in her arm. She and her family also have received support from many friends and community members throughout the recovery process.

For Carla, Pay It Forward provides the freedom to help with needs that have a personal connection.

“The bank could choose to give their money wherever they want,” Carla said. “I think it’s really great that we get to pick things that matter to us, and that they trust us to do something good with that.”