Lake Country Weekend Post

4 • LAKE COUNTRY POST • SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 GMTODAY.COM HEALTH Mystery illness takes woman on life-threatening journey By Eric Oliver Enterprise Staff WAUKESHA — Nicole Grehn is going to get mar- ried. Two months ago, the 24- year-old was fighting for her life. Grehn, of Oak Creek, was coming home from a family vacation in Ashland with her boyfriend, Michael Bendall, of Oconomowoc. They had to stop for gas in Minocqua. In the middle of the gas station she collapsed. The gas station was in front of a hospital and an ambulance had luckily just driven past them. She was rushed to the hospital where doctors said she was in ven- tricular fibrillation. Her heart was failing. That start- ed her journey from hospital to hospital. From the Minocqua hospi- tal, she was flown to Wausau, then transported to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. As she fought to live, she went into cardiac arrest. Vascular complications arose and doc- tors had to amputate both her legs to prevent severe sepsis shock from setting in. Doctors didn't know what's wrong with her and her health was rapidly deterio- rating. That didn't stop her from getting better. "I am getting better," Grehn said. "I am getting stronger, every day." After a month-long stay in the hospital, Grehn is back home and working her way down the road to recovery. Before leaving the hospital on what Grehn called a terri- ble day, Bendall found a way to make everything better. "(One day) he came to the hospital room and he was all dressed up," Grehn said. "I was like 'where are you going?' He was like 'Oh I just want to make it feel like we weren't at the hospital.' He brought little fake cham- pagne and the glasses and all that good stuff. He brought me flowers. ... He came around the other side of my bed, he got on one knee and asked me (to marry him). I, of course, said 'yes' because I love him more than any- thing." Bendall said it was because he couldn't wait any longer. "At that point when we were coming home from my brother's and she collapsed and was in the hospital, I mean I thought I'd never get the chance," Bendall said. "I could've waited until she got out but I just didn't want to wait any longer." A fundraiser Grehn likes to keep a smile on her face. She said when people see her, she wants them to see her smiling, yet some days are still hard. "I have over a million dol- lars in medical bills so that puts a strain on me some- times, just thinking about it," Grehn said. "Although we've had some wonderful support I still could use all the sup- port I can get. At the same time I know I'm a strong per- son and I know that everyday I'm going to get stronger." Grehn's mother-in-law-to- be Barb Bendall thought the newly engaged couple could use some help. She organized a fundraiser to help cover the medical costs and the cost of future procedures, including the purchase of prosthetic legs. "I want to be able to walk in my wedding and walk down the aisle and have a happy and healthy life and I will," Grehn said. The fundraiser will be 3 p.m. to midnight Oct. 3 at On The Rock, 1601 E. Gate Drive, Watertown. It'll feature a silent auction, a meat raffle, a 50/50 raffle and a full day of musical acts. Both Bendalls are seeking donations for the auction and said anyone interested should call 262-490-7012 or e m a i l bendallmichael@gmail.com. More about Nicole Grehn joked that she hasn't done anything fun lately, before breaking out in laugh- ter and assuring that she was kidding. She likes to go up north and swim, and said water- parks were some of her favorite places. "My fiance actually car- ried me up all the stairs at the Great Wolf Lodge, so I could go on all the water- slides," Grehn said. "I had a blast." She also likes to visit with her family and friends, say- ing they let her feel like a normal person again. Her latest interest is the one directly responsible for making her stronger, physi- cal therapy. "It's one of my favorite things because I like the idea of getting stronger and feel- ing stronger every day," Grehn said. "It really helps." Besides the wedding, Grehn has another goal; to go back to school and become a nurse practitioner. The new couple also want- ed to thank everybody who supported them. "We just want to make sure to thank all the doctors and nurses," Michael Bendall said. "They have been fantas- tic. All the people who have reached out, the prayers and well wishes have truly made this so much easier than it could be. I think that's been the most rewarding thing through the whole thing, the generosity of people and their continued concern and support has really been amazing." People looking to support Grehn's recovery can also donate here: http://bit.ly/1LozJQk Email: eoliver@conleynet.com But she's 'getting stronger every day' Submitted photo Nicole Grehn and Michael Bendall enjoy corn at the Wisconsin State Fair. Prince of Peace (Principe de Paz) Parish Rummage Sale, 8–6pm Sept. 19, 1114 S. 25th St. (Scott St.) school parking lot. Vendors: $25 for one parking space rental for both days. 414-645-8786 (ext. 108) for reservations. MJC Memorial Craft Fair, with auction, bake sale, more, 10–6pm Sept. 18 & 10–4pm Sept. 19, Cornerstone Church, N6-W31449 Alberta Dr., Delafield. www.michaelshelp- inghands.org. 262-404-5763. Free Bonsai Society Exhib- it, 10–4pm Sept. 19 & 10–3pm Sept. 20, Boerner Botanical Gardens. 9400 Boerner Dr. in Whitnall Park, Hales Corners. http://www.mil- waukeebonsai.org/ae/ Fall in Love with Orchids Show & Sale, 9–5pm Sept. 19 & 9–4pm Sept. 20, Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee. Domes admission is $7 for adults, $5 for Milwaukee County seniors with ID, persons with disabilities, students of any age with ID, & ages 6–17. Younger children are admit- ted for free. www.wisconsi- norchidsociety.com Instep Trail Race – Lapham Peak, 5k, 7-miler, half-marathon & marathon, 8am Sept. 19, Lapham Peak State Park W329-N846 Hwy C, Town of Delafield.instep- trailruns@gmail.com Yoga Celebration in the Park, 8–11am Sept. 19, Cut- ler Park, 321 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha. Rain location: Schuetze Recreation Center, 1120 Baxter St., Waukesha. Free, 262-501-1572, 262-524- 3737, ci.waukesha.wi.us Homemade Bread & Soup Lunch & Bake Sale, 11–3pm Sept. 19, St. Paul's United Church of Christ - Erin, 495 St. Augustine Rd., Col- gate, Lunch: adults, $5; chil- dren younger than 12, $3. 262- 628-2319, caroy4@gmail.com, www.stpaulserin.org Candy Color Run/Walk, 2–3:30pm Sept. 19, Spring Creek Church, N35-W22000 Capitol Dr., City of Pewaukee. Free. For children 3 years through 5th grade. Free. Online registration is required at www.springcreekonline.com /colorrun. 262-695-2211. St. Clare Street Fair, 8–6pm Sept. 20, with crafters & vendors along in front of St. Clare Church, 7616 Fritz St., Wind Lake, & in the south parking lot. www.stclarewindlake.org Appraisal Fair, ice cream social, 10–2pm Sept. 20, Waukesha Antique Mall, 1427 E. Racine Ave., Wauke- sha. $5 per item (limit two), 262-524-0600, www.wauke- shaantiquemall.net, antique- mallwaukesha@gmail.com Autumn Harvest: Apples, Honey, Maple Cooking Class, 6:30–9pm Sept. 21, Bay View Community Center, 1320 E. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee. $16, includes handouts with recipes, pre-program snacks, beverages & raffle prizes. Register in advance by phone, mail or in person. 414-482-1000. Fall Lawn & Garden Event, 6–8pm Sept. 23, Retzer Nature Center, S14-W28167 Madison St., Waukesha. Free. 262-896- 8300, recycling@waukesha- county.gov, www.waukesha- county.gov Autumn on the Farms at Old World Wisconsin, Sept. 24–27, W372-S9727 Hwy 67, Town of Eagle. $10–$19. 262- 594-6301, www.oldworldwis- consinhistory.org 22nd Annual Waukesha West High School Home- coming Dinner, 4:30–6:30pm Sept. 25, Waukesha West cafeteria. $8, $5 for ages 6–13 & free for younger than 6. Dan Duffy, Waukesha West direc- tor of bands, 262-970-4005. Milwaukee Hemophilia Walk, 9–1pm Sept. 26, Mil- waukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee. www.glhf.org/walk Feline Groovy Cat Show, 9–4pm Sept. 26 & 27, Foun- tain Hall, 8505 Durand Ave., Sturtevant. www.catsrulecat- club.com for $1 off coupon Homestead Animal Farms Farm, 10–6pm Sept. 26–27, W320-N9127 Hwy 83, Town of Merton. Corn maze $6, hayride $2, petting zoo $2.00, All 3 activities $9, 262-966-3840, hartlandmaze@gmail.com, w w w. h o m e s t e a d a n i m a l farm.com The Thank You Run for the Wounded Warriors Pro- ject, 8–9:30am Sept. 27, Mini- waukan Park, Mukwonago, 8–9:30am, $30, 414-712-0588, www.thethankyourun.com. All proceeds go to the Wounded Warriors Project. Cheery Cherry Fall Fair, 9–4pm Sept. 27, Village Park, Garfield Dr., Menomonee Falls. $4 donation, children 12 & younger free. Proceeds will benefit the Emergency Department at Community Memorial Hospital. No pets, carry-ins, or firearms are allowed. www.cheerycherry- fallfair.com Mozart's Cos "fan tutte" by the Milwaukee Sym- phony Orchestra, 2pm Sept. 20, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. 414- 291-7605 or www.mso.org Global Union World Music festival, noon–6pm Sept. 19, Humboldt Park, 3000 S. How- ell Ave., Milwaukee. Free. http://alvernopresents.alver no.edu/shows/global-union- 2015/ Country in the City with Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Ray & Bella Cain, gates open at 4pm Sept. 19, Cathedral Square Park, Kilbourn Ave. & North Jefferson St., Mil- waukee. Free. VIP pig roast $29.50. www.pabsttheater.org & 414-286-3663. Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound, 7:30pm Sept. 19, SummerStage at Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, W329-N846 Hwy C, Town of Delafield. $13, $11 seniors & students, $6 youths. 262-337-1560 or www.sum- merstageofdelafield.org Boston Brass, 7:30pm Sept. 19, South Milwaukee PAC, 901 15th Ave., South Milwau- kee. $20–$40 for adults, with discounts for seniors & students. www.southmilwau- keepac.org or 414-766-5049. "Rhinestone" with Pam Tillis, 7:30pm Sept. 19, Schauer Arts Center, 147 N. Rural St., Hartford. $44 & $40 for adults & $10 for students with ID. 262-670- 0560, www.schauercenter.org Calexico, 8pm Sept. 20, Turner Hall, 1040 N. 4th St., Milwaukee. $20. 414-286-3663 or www.pabsttheater.org Beach House with Special Guest Jessica Pratt, 8pm Sept. 21, Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. $24.75. www.pabsttheater.org & 414- 286-3663. Ben Rector, 8pm Sept. 23, Turner Hall, 1040 N. 4th St., Milwaukee. $20; $22 day of show. 414-286-3663 or www.pabsttheater.org Klymaxx, 7pm Sept. 24, Riverside Theater, 116 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. $25.99–$75. 414-286-3663 or www.pabsttheater.org. CALENDAR

• Cover