Tasha Wiese continues to battle serious health complications after undergoing a life-changing amputation.
Her family, including her uncle Bryan Bartel, is deeply grateful for the community’s support and the care Tasha is receiving at the Health Sciences Centre. However, it is still an extremely difficult time.
"It's going OK," says Bartel. “Just watching the family is probably really the hardest. Just seeing the struggle and pain that they go through day by day and it's a roller coaster. They get good information and they're feeling positive. And then there's a setback of some kind.”
He shares that it has been an emotional journey not only for Tasha, but for those closest to her.
“It's just a bit of a roller coaster ride just watching the family, and well for Tasha obviously, but she's been unconscious a lot. So, it's hard to quite fully understand what she's all going through. But obviously it's a tremendous struggle.”
One source of comfort has been the exceptional care from staff at HSC. He says his brother Ken and sister-in-law Bev are blown away by the tremendous support.
“There is one-on-one care there 24/7. And they're including them. There's proper communication from the doctors. There's a whole team of doctors that come through once a day or maybe even more and then each specifically has their specialty, and they speak into it, and what they can expect, and they project what might happen. It's quite a process and they're just so, so impressed and feel supported by that. So that has been just a tremendous blessing and experience for them.”
Though visiting hours have been limited due to Tasha's condition, Bartel and his wife have found ways to show their support for the family during this time.
“We have been able to see Tasha a couple of times. Because of her health condition, it's been quite limited seeing her directly, but my wife Cheryl and I, we've gone in several times,” he says. “We're trying to be as supportive as we can and yet we recognize they need their rest.”
As the family continues to navigate this difficult journey, the Steinbach community is stepping up in heartfelt and generous ways.
Tasha, a longtime volunteer and supporter of the Steinbach Pistons, is now receiving that same support in return. The team has donated proceeds from a recent 50/50 draw directly to her GoFundMe campaign.
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Local businesses are also joining in to help. Chinos Bistro and Sunshine Greenhouse have pledged to donate $3 from every specialty coffee sold, as well as from each gelato purchase, to support Tasha and her healing journey.
“This community is just so great when there's a need and we're seeing it firsthand in our family,” Bartel says.
A GoFundMe campaign continues to raise funds for Tasha and her husband for those looking to give directly.
Bartel, who owns MJ’s Kafe, welcomes monetary donations to be dropped off at the restaurant.
“There are some people that have dropped by MJ's and dropped off an envelope of cash,” Bartel says. “I think we've had about 10 people doing that already and we will make sure that it goes directly to Tasha’s needs.”
He’s also hoping to plan a special event at MJ’s on April 30th.
“We found out what Tasha's favourite burger is, what she likes on her burger,” he explains. “So, what we're planning on doing at this point, we're planning on doing Tasha's favourite burger promotion and it's going to be April 30th, pick up a burger. It's going to be from 11 to 7 pm. 100% of the sale of that burger is going to go to Tasha's needs. And so, we're working on that. We would just love to see the continued community support.”
He describes his niece as someone who thrives in social settings.
“Tasha is a people person, big time,” he says. “Her smile. And she wasn't one to sit and read a book at home alone a whole lot. She liked to be with groups of people. And I think that’s what Tasha will need, in the years to come.”
Beyond monetary donations, Bartel asks the community to keep praying, supporting, and sharing words of encouragement.
“This is a long game. This is something that's going to take months and years to just to continue healing and movements forward, steps forward. Just that community support, continuing that would be what I would say is what's needed. Certainly, the prayers for Tasha and her family.”
For those interested in donating to the GoFundMe, please click here.
With files from Adi Loewen