Craig Needs Your Help to Heal

On July 3rd, Craig survived emergency open-heart surgery after his aorta suddenly began to split apart. That 5+ hour surgery saved his life. But his battle is far from over. He now faces two more major surgeries to reconstruct parts of his aorta and place multiple stents. On top of this, he’s struggling with severe back pain that doctors are still trying to explain.

Why We’re Asking for Help

We’re doing everything we can to hold our family together, but recovery is expected to take at least 4-5 months (July through October).

Craig has applied for temporary disability, but nothing is guaranteed (and as of August 30, the application is still " under review").

Bills are piling up. We are so grateful to have raised enough funds to pay our rent for September.

We are praying to keep our utilities, and basic expenses paid. We’re past our limits.

I (Vanessa) will be substitute teaching while I continue to apply for a new job. Subbing doesn't pay enough to cover all our expenses. A new job is really what is needed.

Craig is looking forward to returning to work but he needs to be physically ready.

What we need most right now is a bit more breathing room so Craig can focus on healing instead of forcing himself back to work too soon. We need help getting through this difficult phase to the better days ahead.

What Happened

That morning, July 3rd, Craig almost stayed home. He didn’t feel well, but he got on his motorcycle and went to work anyway. He stopped for gas, felt abdominal pain and turned around to come home. I was still asleep, but he woke me saying, “You have to take me to the ER. Now.”

At the hospital, doctors rushed him into a triage of tests because his blood pressure was through the roof.

When Craig asked if he was having a heart attack, the doctor said,

“No. What you’re having is worse.”

Is soon as he was stabilized, they immediately transported him from Rahway, NJ to Newark for emergency surgery.

That operation saved his life.

Recovery has been brutal.

Craig came home less than a week later, only to wind up back in the hospital soon after. His pain was excruciating, and his doctors said more surgery is unavoidable. He wound up needing a week of IV antibiotics. His symptoms were not manageable at home.

Our Family’s Reality Right Now

We have had a series of health setbacks within the family. Just about a month before Craig landed in the hosital, our son Jax had his appendix burst this summer and needed emergency surgery. Since it burst, his surgery was followed by almost a week in the hospital. Craig and I took turns sleeping at the hospital and he took some time off work.

The night Craig had surgery, one of our dogs was severely injured in a fight and needed urgent vet care. I took him to an emergency vet that night. He also needed IV antibiotics and a drain placed.

The next day we followed the vet reccomendations and had a family friend take him while he recovered. The vet bill was $1700 after that fight and we didn't want to risk him getting hurt again with everything going on.

We’ve been hit with one crisis after another, and it’s left us financially and emotionally drained.

How You Can Help

Your support means Craig can heal without the crushing pressure of financial survival on his shoulders.

We can pay our utility bills, buy groceries, take care of our basics and get through the next few months with less stress and more focus on health. The kids are returning to school, with the expenses that come with that.

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference. $5, $10, $20, $50 it all adds up. If everyone who actually SAW this gave even $2 each, we would have reached our goal weeks ago.

Which brings me to our next request: We have seen how helpful sharing this campaign is. Sharing it with your network helps us reach people who might not otherwise know what we’re going through.

Every time someone shares, new support comes in, and it has given us so much hope.

If you can, please:

1. Donate what you can today.

2. Share this campaign with your network. Even if you have shared it before, please share it again ❤️

From Our Family to Yours

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for standing with us in this fight. Your kindness, whether through donations, shares, or words of encouragement - is carrying us through the hardest chapter of our lives.

With gratitude & love,

Vanessa & Craig