Karl's Road to Recovery

On December 15, 2022, Karl went into cardiac arrest and due to a lack of oxygen, he suffered a severe anoxic brain injury.

After several rounds of lifesaving measures in the ambulance and arriving at UF Health Leesburg, he was placed on life support and doctors claimed IF he ever woke up, he’d be a vegetable…

Karl woke up and was taken off life support less than 2 days later.

Karl was diagnosed with several infections and ailments and after 16 days of being in the hospital, he hadn’t gotten out of bed once— not for lack of wanting or trying— but because he did not receive the proper medical care, attention or therapy throughout the hospital stay. Therefore, despite our family’s constant pleas to doctors and nurses, his journey to recovery was severely impaired.

On December 31st, Karl was finally transferred to a rehabilitation hospital— minus 40 lbs and all of his muscle mass— to continue treating his infections and to work on his physical, occupational and cognitive functions. On January 13th, he took his first steps in 29 days.

Because his care in the hospital was not progressive enough, he needs more time and therapy, however, there is only so much of his treatment that insurance will cover.

In order to get him back to functioning at the highest possible level, we are asking for donations to pay for his continued care and rehabilitation which require extremely expensive inpatient facilities.

We have watched Karl improve tremendously day after day and overcome all the odds, despite only having his family and loved ones in his corner fighting for him. And honestly, we can’t wait to see the look on the doctors’ faces when he makes a close to full recovery.

To know Karl, is to love him. There isn’t a person (or animal) that meets him and doesn’t love him, and there’s no room he walks into without making everyone in it smile and laugh. He always gives everything and asks for nothing in return and the very thought of asking others for donations would not sit well with him.

However we, as his family, will do whatever it takes to see our Miracle Man get back to an independent life that he would want to live— outside in his workshop garage, creating one-of-a-kind masterpieces; cracking jokes on the front porch at happy hour; and spending time with his wife, kids, grandkids, family and friends. Any other reality would not be living for Karl.

Thank you to those that have checked in on Karl and our family, as well as the continued thoughts and prayers. If you aren’t able to donate, sending out positive vibes or a few prayers means just as much to our family.

In the meantime, Karl will continue to get better, because as he would say, he’s, “strong like bull.”