Covid & stroke survivor 2020, Tom “Skin” Stolleis

As many of you know, after testing positive for COVID-19, our dad, Tom Stolleis, aka “Skin,” was admitted to the hospital on October 31, 2020. He was diagnosed with COVID pneumonia and after several days of struggling, he was placed on a ventilator. We won’t bore you with medical lingo such as pulse oximetry averages, O2 stats, or how he has to be put in a prone position frequently to help open up lungs. We will simply tell you this, the stress on his body due to COVID, coupled with what needed to be done to keep him alive caused clots to form in his legs. Those blood clots then traveled to his brain and caused not only one but two strokes, which have affected his left side and his ability to swallow. In an attempt to lessen the clotting, out of fear one would travel to his lungs, he was taken off the vent and given blood thinners. Unfortunately, due to his inability to swallow after the strokes, his lungs began filling with secretions his body couldn’t rid; therefore, after just a few days of breathing on own, he had to be placed back on the ventilator to save him. He is now awaiting surgery to have a tracheotomy put in, and this may be the only resort to saving him. There is a 50/50 chance this is something he may have to have for the rest of his life. We ask for prayers that this isn’t the case, and it will only be temporary. As a result of the strokes, he has weakness and possibly paralysis on his left side. Tom is a dad, a grandpa, a friend, a co-worker, a sibling, and an uncle. He has a heart of gold and he is an incredibly kind-hearted soul. He is fighting for his life, and when he is released will continue to have to fight to get back his life, for months to come. He is clearly unable to work, so he has no paycheck coming in to pay his bills. His family has been told he will need a minimum of two months of intensive physical therapy. This therapy is only available at a facility in Chicago. Once released from the facility he will need additional rehab from home. He needs your help! He didn’t ask to be in this situation. He was merely going to work to service many of you, knowing he was putting himself at risk, but he still did it. He simply came into contact with a virus that has already stolen far more from him than he will ever get back. His day to day bills will go unpaid with no pay coming in. His therapy will be just one more burden he won’t be able to bear. Please, if you can, find it in your heart to give what you are able to help with for this amazing human being, in not only his fight with COVID 19, but in his hope of overcoming it. If you are unable to give a donation we understand, but we are still begging you for prayers and good thoughts. They are extremely helpful as well! 100% of proceeds will go directly to Tom and his recovery. He needs our help! He would give the shirt off his back for anyone, without a second thought. Asking for help isn’t something we, or our dad, take lightly. It took us three weeks to decide that it was time for us to reach out. We understand that these are very trying times for everyone right now, and we appreciate your help. With love, his three daughters, Nicole, Krystle, and Sarah