Support Dan's Inspiring Recovery

The doctors predicted that Dan would never wake from that coma, but Lea and Katie knew Dan’s tenacious spirit, and insisted on letting him fight his way back.  When no one else believed in his ability to heal, they did.


In June, two months later, Dan opened a single eye.  By July, he was fully awake. He immediately displayed clear signs of complete cognition, and his unquenchable desire to fight hard against his condition was obvious.  But Dan found himself in a body that was not going to make things easy.  He was completely paralyzed, and speech was impossible.  But the family figured out eye blinking codes to say “yes” and “no” and “I love you,.“

Since that moment, Dan has and fought tirelessly and methodically week by week to awaken one small body part at a time.  A devoted meditator, Lea and Katie could see Dan use his meditative skills to build one muscle at a time, and then put the pieces together to achieve movements. 


When the doctors started to see what Dan COULD do, they all agreed that he needed immediate and consistent therapies: physical, occupational and speech therapy.  But here is the catch 22 for ALL the families of serious aneurysm survivors: In facilities, they were told that Dan “did not qualify” for the minimal therapy that insurance offered, yet the facilities would not allow outside therapists.  Any hope of getting Dan what he needed seemed out of reach.

In what appeared to be a cruel turn of events, Dan’s hospital medicare allowance ran out at a time when all lesser facility beds were unavailable.  Dan Lea and Katie were terrified when they were sent home to care for him, even though he was still on a tracheostomy.  They had to hire round the clock caregivers. Self employed acting coach Lea started working 12 hour days seven days a week to pay for both them and most of the medical supplies.  But steady therapy was still an impossibility.

An emergency trip to a new hospital (Cedars Sinai) changed their lives  A caring hospitalist told Lea and Katie about a concierge physiatrist who, for a price, would send wonderful therapists to the home.  The price was beyond Lea’s reach, but she took out two more credit cards, and upped her work load to 14 hour days 7 days per week to pay the bills.


It was worth it.  Today, these amazing physical, occupational and speech therapists are working daily miracles in Dan’s life. Recovery is still slow, but it’s happening. 

Meanwhile, Lea and Katie continue to devote themselves entirely to Dan’s recovery and care.  Katie has let her NYC apartment go, and spends her days and many nights as the full time head of Dan’s medical care, acting as a nurse, CNA, Respiratory Therapist, and Case Manager: helping to change him, turn him, tracking supplies, ensuring that he gets what he needs, feeding him, doing countless loads of laundry, and more.  Until very recently, Lea has continued to work more than full time to get Dan the resources he needs.   (No.  Government aid is not possible as long as Lea works so many hours to pay for care.)


But now, in the past month, things have gotten harder.  In April 2019, Lea went into the hospital. She has not been able to keep raising the crucial weekly funds for Dan’s care.  Meanwhile, their landlord has decided to move back into their house (complete with eviction notice), so they have to pack up and move their 18 year residence along with Dan and all his equipment, ramps and supplies by the end of June.

Dan and Lea have always been more interested in doing the right thing than in money.  As a director and freelance university acting teacher, Dan has always put his students first.  As an acting coach, Lea has always gone way beyond the usual to make sure that her students are getting what they need.  Katie's unselfish devotion to her family shows her desire to be of service. Now they all need to ask for help.


The family’s immediate goal is to pay their bills, and keep the therapies going long enough to get Dan well enough to continue his recovery in a rehab center. Their move will make it crucial for Lea to cut back on her work long enough to both heal and pack up the house.

Again, Dan is working tirelessly to get his body to start doing those things that were taken for granted: moving his head from side to side, lifting a spoon from a plate to his mouth, and getting his swallowing mechanism to coordinate with that spoon.  Making his vocal chords connect with his lips to make speech.  Things that were never given any thought until that April night two years ago.


The inspiration of Dan’s progress is matched only by his family’s unwavering spirit, but they need support to keep the momentum of Dan’s improvements going. The resources raised through this GoFundMe will cover Dan’s daily care, which works out to about $8000 per week. The care includes:

·      24 hour care givers (working alongside Katie/Lea)

·      physical, occupational and speech therapy (insurance pays for almost none when the doctors call it essential)

·      Medicines after deductibles - about $1200 per month

·      Medical transportation to and from doctor visits, hospital tests OR a used wheelchair van, so that they can start to transport him without the exorbitant costs of medical transport.

·      Diapers, wipes, creams, gloves, masks, special bandages, wound prevention, etc.

·      Possible needs for speech and communication technology


Please consider financially supporting this incredible family to restart their lives and help Dan continue his journey to recovery.