Thursday benefit set for stroke victim

Co-workers are holding a Pizza Hut fundraiser Thursday for a Havre woman who suffered a stroke in January and has been recovering and unable to work since.

Christine Sapp’s co-workers at Bullhook Community Health Center have set up the fundraiser to help her pay for medical bills and make up for lost wages. When people say they are donating to the Christine Sapp fund when paying for a purchase at Pizza Hut Thursday, the restaurant will donate 20 percent of the purchase price to the fund. A Wells Fargo account to which people can donate to help her has also been set up.

Sapp’s stroke happened Jan. 7 and was the result of uncontrolled high blood pressure related to chronic pain she had been suffering in her knee for some time, Sapp’s daughter Heather Sapp said Tuesday.

After the stroke, Christine was taken to the emergency room in Northern Montana Hospital, from which she was then flown by Mercy Flight to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. Heather said her mother spent three weeks in the Benefis intensive care unit. She had surgery to stop the bleeding and has incurred permanent troubles as a result of the stroke, Heather said.

“Her life has changed because of the stroke,” Heather said.

Her condition is day-by-day, Heather said, and it could be up to a year before she can return to work. Her mother would like to get back to life as it was before the stroke, Heather said.

“She’s doing OK. She misses her job and co-workers. She’s also determined to get back to Havre,” Heather said.

Although she has insurance, the emergency flight, the E.R. expenses and the first week in ICU will all require out-of-pocket money, Heather said, adding that not having worked since January is another expense Christine has accrued.

Christine is married and has four children. She is still in Great Falls, where she undergoes therapy and stays with family, Heather said. She was born and raised in Joplin and moved to Havre after high school, where she has been since.