Charles Medical & Rehab Assistance
Donation protected
Charles Smellie is an above-average person. He is a wonderful husband, an excellent father, a successful sole proprietor businessman, a wonderful friend and skillful tennis player and most importantly, an upright, spiritual leader in his church and at home.
On Thursday, January 5, 2017 during the early evening hours, Charles' various roles came to a screeching halt by a tragedy only VERY few of us have ever faced much less – survived.
January 5th would have been a typical Thursday evening for Charles where he would have come in from work, sat down to relax a bit, play with his 11-month old son and talk to his wife - finding out how her day went and making plans for the weekend.
Other individuals in the house were also there, as well as a close family member who had been there about 8 days and whom Charles loved and was helping. Little did anyone know that Charles' life was soon about to be drastically changed forever by this person in his home.
The individual attacked Charles with a sharp concealed weapon. Charles sustained multiple stab wounds to the head, jugular vein AND carotid artery on the left side of his neck, and, in the struggle to subdue the attacker, a punctured spleen and other stabbed wounds. There was blood EVERYWHERE as both Charles and his wife Suzette struggled to dis-arm the attacker. At the end of the ordeal, Charles in his rapidly diminishing strength, had to place his body on top of the attacker and told Suzette to take the knife from the individual.
God kept Charles conscious long enough for him to perhaps able to tell the authorities and EMS who the attacker was. We all know what might have happened to Suzette if they had come and found Charles unconscious in a pool of his blood while she held the knife and covered in Charles blood.
With quick action by the EMS and doctors at the trauma ward of the Prince Georges Hospital in Maryland, surgery was immediately done to repair his multiple injuries. Charles was given 12 UNITS of blood. Even though God miraculously saved his life, he unfortunately soon after, suffered a stroke on the left side of his brain. He was placed on a ventilator for weeks.
In spite of what happened, Charles' condition improved with each passing day. Today, his body is healing rapidly, but he hasn't spoken or moved his right limbs consistently for an extended period of time. However, doctors are encouraged & optimistic that with aggressive rehab Charles could regain much of his functionality. 
Suzette has been a tower of strength and a devoted wife to Charles during the many weeks of this ordeal while looking after their young child and working at her regular job 35 miles away. The bills from the hospital are beginning to come in since Charles has been in the hospital for over a month. Suzette is finalizing arrangements with the facility that would provide his rehabilitation and the costs that would be incurred with this decision.
Suzette did not ask me to do this, but as one of Charles' friend, tennis partner and competitor, I wanted to do something more than collect a donation, which we already did within our tennis circle. I wanted the world to see who Charles was, who he is now, what he went through, and how God blessed him with life in the midst of a horrific attack that should have ended his life. And finally, I want to give you the opportunity to financially help Suzette to pay for astronomical medical expenses and rehabilitation costs that insurance will not cover. The road ahead for Charles and his family will be a long one. We could at least make it a financially smooth journey for them.
I am having ALL donations go directly into Suzette's bank account and will receive no compensation whatsoever. Help me help Suzette to get her husband back. Help their 11-month old son get his father back, help this sole proprietor of a promising business get back to work and continue to provide for his family. And help me get my tennis buddy and friend back.
On behalf of Suzette and all of us affected by this tragedy - Thank you for your donation and thank you for your continued prayers and best wishes.

Sincerely
Cliff Hunter
On Thursday, January 5, 2017 during the early evening hours, Charles' various roles came to a screeching halt by a tragedy only VERY few of us have ever faced much less – survived.January 5th would have been a typical Thursday evening for Charles where he would have come in from work, sat down to relax a bit, play with his 11-month old son and talk to his wife - finding out how her day went and making plans for the weekend.
Other individuals in the house were also there, as well as a close family member who had been there about 8 days and whom Charles loved and was helping. Little did anyone know that Charles' life was soon about to be drastically changed forever by this person in his home.The individual attacked Charles with a sharp concealed weapon. Charles sustained multiple stab wounds to the head, jugular vein AND carotid artery on the left side of his neck, and, in the struggle to subdue the attacker, a punctured spleen and other stabbed wounds. There was blood EVERYWHERE as both Charles and his wife Suzette struggled to dis-arm the attacker. At the end of the ordeal, Charles in his rapidly diminishing strength, had to place his body on top of the attacker and told Suzette to take the knife from the individual.
God kept Charles conscious long enough for him to perhaps able to tell the authorities and EMS who the attacker was. We all know what might have happened to Suzette if they had come and found Charles unconscious in a pool of his blood while she held the knife and covered in Charles blood.
With quick action by the EMS and doctors at the trauma ward of the Prince Georges Hospital in Maryland, surgery was immediately done to repair his multiple injuries. Charles was given 12 UNITS of blood. Even though God miraculously saved his life, he unfortunately soon after, suffered a stroke on the left side of his brain. He was placed on a ventilator for weeks.
In spite of what happened, Charles' condition improved with each passing day. Today, his body is healing rapidly, but he hasn't spoken or moved his right limbs consistently for an extended period of time. However, doctors are encouraged & optimistic that with aggressive rehab Charles could regain much of his functionality. Suzette has been a tower of strength and a devoted wife to Charles during the many weeks of this ordeal while looking after their young child and working at her regular job 35 miles away. The bills from the hospital are beginning to come in since Charles has been in the hospital for over a month. Suzette is finalizing arrangements with the facility that would provide his rehabilitation and the costs that would be incurred with this decision.Suzette did not ask me to do this, but as one of Charles' friend, tennis partner and competitor, I wanted to do something more than collect a donation, which we already did within our tennis circle. I wanted the world to see who Charles was, who he is now, what he went through, and how God blessed him with life in the midst of a horrific attack that should have ended his life. And finally, I want to give you the opportunity to financially help Suzette to pay for astronomical medical expenses and rehabilitation costs that insurance will not cover. The road ahead for Charles and his family will be a long one. We could at least make it a financially smooth journey for them.
I am having ALL donations go directly into Suzette's bank account and will receive no compensation whatsoever. Help me help Suzette to get her husband back. Help their 11-month old son get his father back, help this sole proprietor of a promising business get back to work and continue to provide for his family. And help me get my tennis buddy and friend back.
On behalf of Suzette and all of us affected by this tragedy - Thank you for your donation and thank you for your continued prayers and best wishes.Sincerely
Cliff Hunter
Organizer and beneficiary
Cliff Hunter
Organizer
Suzette Smellie
Beneficiary
