In August 2022 Evan Staton was a healthy, happy and athletic 25 year old ready to launch his career when he was blindsided by a diagnosis of stage 3 testicular cancer. Within 48 hours he was wheeled into surgery on what would have been his first day teaching AP psychology at his high school alma mater. He'd recently graduated from Pepperdine University, was coaching and playing water polo, and excited to start this new chapter.

Chemotherapy was rigorous and despite assurances, the unthinkable occurred -- Evan experienced a rare adverse reaction to one of the chemo drugs which caused respiratory failure.

By January 1, 2023 Evan was on life support and the highest ventilator settings every seen by ICU nurses.

While being intubated for the respiratory failure, his body suffered a series of massive strokes. He was airlifted to a level one trauma center in Orlando where his parents, brother, and family sat vigil for weeks waiting to learn if he would survive.

By the Grace of God he did survive, and after nearly six months in ICU and acute care was released home where he now lives with his parents.

Thus began Evan's new lifelong ambition -- not to teach, coach, marry, start a family -- but rather to maneuver a wheelchair, walk with a cane, and learn to live with paralysis, speech disorders, and a neurological vision deficit that has no known avenues of recovery. He replaced his apartment and all semblance of independent living with 24/7 supervised care and daily physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

Donations help cover the costs of these daily therapy sessions crucial for improving speech and mobility post-stroke. Every dollar counts and every donation goes a long way toward helping Evan turn hardship into hope; tragedy into triumph. Your support means more than words could express as Evan steps forward to reclaiming his life and independence.