Pavel's Medical Fund

On the evening of July 14th, Pavel Antosik was enjoying a bike ride, a simple exercise in which he took great pleasure.  In a ruthless ambush, Pavel was shot 3 times from behind.  A bullet lodged in his upper thigh, another punching into his back, damaging his lung, the third round grazing his leg.  His attackers fled as he fell, unknown and alone, bleeding onto a dark New Orleans’ avenue.  As the ambulance rushed him to a hospital, the last words he remembers of that fateful night are… “We are losing him.”

Pavel Antosik was born in Poland and spent many years of his adult life in Germany, proudly referring to himself as “Ein Berliner”.  It was in Germany that Pavel met and fell in love with Anthony, a US soldier stationed in the country.  

A decade into their relationship, Pavel and Anthony moved to the United States and settled in New Orleans.  Recognizing the city as a very European city, it was easy for Pavel to fall in love with people of New Orleans, its laissez fair attitude, the architecture, its renown cuisine, and importantly, he says, its civilized open-container laws.  

When a position in the kitchen at Dick & Jenny’s opened, Pavel jumped at the opportunity to become a part of that New Orleans culture.  With his ability, diligence, and vibrant personality,  he quickly became a valuable member of the D&J’s team, beloved and respected.  

After the shooting,  Pavel was missing for 24 hours.  Anthony and the Dick & Jenny’s team searched and called friends, family, jails, and hospitals, until a detective finally returned Anthony’s worried call. Pavel was alive but in serious condition.   

His Dick & Jenny’s family were filled with great concern and shed real tears as Pavel remained in a medically induced coma.  It was not until 3 days later, after ER doctors determined he had convalesced enough, that they attempted to bring him out of his coma and stabilize him.  

They were successful.
 
Pavel continues to mend, to heal, to become stronger.  He is defiant yet retains his tremendous sense of wit and humor.  He continues, despite an evil attempt at murder that could have turned him cynical and hard, to contribute his own unique beauty and charm so becoming of New Orleans.  

Although his husband's insurance partially covered his expenses, his medical bills far exceeded the limits of Anthony's coverage and as one of New Orleans treasured service industry employees, he severely lacks the income to cover the bills arriving daily in his mailbox.

Please help us make this sad story of senseless violence have a happy ending for a man who travelled half of the world to call New Orleans his home.  In many ways, Pavel represents hope and the American dream.  He won't quit on the Crescent City, so let's help him rebuild the life he worked so hard to achieve.  Any and all donations are appreciated.

He is Pavel.

He is New Orleans.