Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation For Paul Anthony

Hello All. My name is Dacia Dills Hernandez. I am the wife of Paul Anthony Hernandez and this is his story... Our Saturday morning started out like any other, with small variations since Covid19 took hold. We had no dire plans or appointments to keep.And like so many families, we decided to practice social distancing and just stay home that weekend. We planned to finish up our vegetable garden and maybe a fourwheeler ride in the evening. I was in the kitchen making breakfast for Paul and family. Paul walks in trying to steal bacon off the plate while my back was turned, lol. Just typical Saturday morning stuff ! I said, "What's up?" He then informed me he wanted to take his fourwheeler down the dirt road that he'd be back in 30. I told him, "Well, ok but hurry back because breakfast will be ready soon! " And I watched him walk out the back door with his keys in hand. Around 20 minutes passed and breakfast was ready. I began calling his cell phone to let him know. No Answer. I walked to our bedroom and found his phone ringing on his nightstand. He Never Left! He must have came back through the front and decided to take shower first because I could hear shower running down the hall. So I knocked on the bathroom door and asked, "What happened?? Thought you were going for a ride? Guess you didn't want to miss breakfast? He didn't answer. So again I repeated everything and said, "Are you ok in there?" This time he answered and said, "I've fallen and I can't get up!" (You know, like the commercial) This is a phrase Paul has said often..in a joking way! Anyone that really knows Paul knows he's a jokester. He loves to laugh and make others laugh. So I said, Yeah,yeah Come on and eat your breakfast before it gets cold! And again he didn't answer. So I wiggled the door knob and realized the door was locked. This time I Yelled, Paul are you ok ? And he repeated the same phrase..I've fallen & I...but his delivery was slower. In that moment I knew something was wrong! I said Ok I'm busting this door down!! But ofcourse I could not! Who was I fooling? I ran outside and got our two sons who are in their 20's to help. Luckily they were still here and one smack from Colton and door flew open! Paul was lying flat on his back in water. In those minutes I thought his sugar had tanked because he is a diabetic.I had no idea at that time just how serious his medical emergency would be. He seemed dazed and he was bleeding.But was still talking and trying to convince me NOT to dial 911. Ofcourse I didn't listen and immediately dialed the numbers! The first responders were the Fire Department. And because Paul was talking and made sense they didn't realize the seriousness of the situation. They were cutting up and Paul had them laughing..making Trump jokes while waiting for the ambulance. The EMT'S got lost but when they made it.. They were on it!! Thank God for them! He was transported to Piedmont Fayette. There they discovered Paul had a hemoratic stroke and a massive brain bleed affecting the left side of his brain! The stroke caused major damage to his sleep/coma and memory centers. It's left him unable to speak or clear his secretions on his own. He also had no movement on left side. His Doctor's say that he can recover but his road to recovery will be a long one. He stayed in ICU for over a month and fought for his life. He suffered pneumonia twice, a uti and was on a ventilator to breathe. Those days were excruciating. For we couldn't go see him or even talk to him. But by the Grace of God he made it through! I want to Stop and Thank All of our family and friends for loving him and Praying for him since it began. There are no words to express my gratitude for the support I have received. And I know through God's grace those prayers are what carried him through all the challenges he has faced! There's no doubt. We as Christians know the Power of Prayer! We have been Praying non stop for Paul's healing and recovery. And God has been working Miracles! Paul no longer has those infections. He has since been weaned off the ventilator. He just has the trach and feeding tube. He has become more cognitive! He opens his eyes. Blinks for us and nurses when asked questions. He now uses his right hand to sign to his daughter Kaeleen and I. Especially when he wants to say..I Love You during our facetime sessions.His nurses have even witnessed him moving his left leg just a couple of days ago! Meaning he's not completely paralyzed on his left. So there's definitely Hope he will walk again one day soon! God is with him and making things happen in his life. Thank you Lord for protecting him and carrying him through these challenges. We are at a very critical point in Paul's recovery. Paul needs special care 24/7 on top of Physical and Occupational therapy to relearn everything he's lost. The Doctors say most of healing in his brain will happen in first few months after the stroke. So time is of the essence. Unfortunately, all of Paul's insurance is through his job at Johndeere Distribution. He's been a Supervisor there for years . Never missed a day of work. Never even late, not once that I can remember. He didn't even take his vacation time. Worked right on through it. Thats just who he is.Well,last year one of his corneas went kaput and he had to have a cornea transplant.He had the surgery but had some complications and had to take a medical leave for awhile. We struggled but got through it. And he had just returned back to work in February. So hes only been back a month or so when stroke happened. I would like to think Johndeere will keep him on and support him through these health challenges. But I can't say for certain that will happen. So after much thought, consideration and prayer I've decided to create this GoFundMe for Paul. I would give him the whole world if I could. And I want him to have the best chance at life. All the funds donated will go towards his Medical and Rehabilitation expenses and devices. I know he will need a wheelchair, oxygen equipment, etc when he comes home. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. And please keep Paul in your prayers! He needs us now more than ever! God Bless Everyone of you! Sincerely, Paul's wife Dacia