Medical Care & Equipment for Greg
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A little over 6 months ago, Greg Smith died in intensive care after a stroke which led to cardiac arrest... ONLY after successful CPR, he survived, but needed to undergo a tracheotomy and other extensive medical procedures.
Now he and his family are facing extreme financial hardship because of life sustaining medical expenses.
Many of you know Greg Smith as the "The Strength Coach" who has inspired MILLIONS of people. Greg has touched over 2 million (no exaggeration) with his award-winning PBS documentary on resiliency and inner strength. Greg is a true champion on how to bounce back when the odds are not looking good. Thousands more have heard his keynote speeches, radio shows and podcasts, read his books, or seen media coverage in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal and many others. He’s done so much for many of us, now it’s our turn to help him.
Greg has beaten the odds, over and over. He’s lived a rich and full life despite at the age of 3 being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. All his adult life, he has been "skin & bones," using a power wheelchair since the age of 13.
The fact that he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1985 is a testimony to his inner strength. What severely disabled person does that. But since he crossed the burning sands at Arizona State's Alpha Theta chapter August 24,1985, he has taught thousands of his brothers a deeper meaning of the word "strength."
The way he has embraced life with a severe disability has motivated and inspired everyone he's met. On March 25, 2016, Greg turned 52-years-old! That equates to over 3 ½ times the life expectancy that doctors gave his parents!
Before the stroke, Greg was very independent. He was driving his adapted minivan to go wherever he wanted and needed little assistance after getting up and ready for each day. Now, Greg has lost most all of his physical independence. Please help Greg beat the odds again.
Financial Crisis
Greg was rejected by the Mississippi Medicaid Waiver program for elderly and disabled. This would have given the Smiths 35 hours per week of personal assistant care. Why didn’t they get the help? Because Greg helped once to pay for his daughter’s tuition!
And while Greg was in intensive care, a letter was sent from the Social Security Administration challenging the income Greg earned as a speaker. Because Greg was unable to respond, as he had several times in the past to the same letter, SSA suspended his benefits and he did not receive income from October through May. This has caused more financial burden on the Smith family!
These recent series of events have truly rocked Greg's world resulting in a complete dependence on his elderly parents and tremendous financial stress. This family needs your prayers and any financial help.
Tough times for Greg’s elderly parents.
Jim and Adelia Smith are in their mid to late 70’s and are now Greg's primary caregivers. To complicate matters, they are dealing with their own health issues. Adelia can no longer lift him. Greg, who was very independent six months ago, now can never be left alone and needs constant assistance.
When Greg's parents learned of his stroke, they immediately flew from their Mississippi home to Phoenix to be with him every day and night during his hospitalization. When he was discharged from rehab, Jim and Adelia took on the full-time role of caregivers and all of the responsibilities that come with caring for a ventilator dependent person with severe muscular dystrophy.
What does the future hold?
If anything happened to Greg's parents, he would probably end up living in a nursing home. To avoid this fate, his goal is to recover enough to build a successful business as a speaker, writer and producer of motivational material. He is also working on establishing a non-profit organization which will build a headquarters in Phoenix where the thin air is much easier for him to breathe. This will serve as his production facility and residence. He wants to leave a legacy and upon his death, production of disability and empowering media will continue and the home will made available for people with disabilities in need of transitional housing.
My personal testimony of “the Strength Coach”.
Greg is one of the most amazing individuals I’ve had the honor of knowing. He has been a source of strength for me for over 30 years. I have had the pleasure of working with him at KTAR Radio in the late 80's and he is one of the strongest people I've ever met. He truly lives up to his name as "The Strength Coach." Since leaving our station in '92, he has succeeded beyond measure in inspiring everyone who encounters his message.
What makes Greg’s life so inspiring, is instead of feeling sorry for himself, he has led an active life by example, participating in marching band from his power wheelchair, calling football and basketball games on the radio, leaving the safety of his parents care to fly across the country to attend Arizona State University and beginning a career in radio that led him to the role of Sales Promotion Director at the top station in Phoenix. As a sports reporter, he covered NBA and NFL games and was host of the Arizona Cardinals post-game show for 3 seasons. He went on to create a nationally syndicated radio show on disability issues called, "On A Roll," before focusing his efforts as a speaker and author. And Greg is the father of 3 young adults ages 23, 22, and 18!
A call to action. It’s not over. You can help Greg!
This family needs your help to pay for caregivers, medical expenses such as a power wheelchair that accommodates Greg's new limitations and a lock-down system for his van so he can be safely transported.
You know what you can do, even if it’s a few dollars. Let’s help Greg continue his work. Thank you and God bless.
Sincerely,
Diane Bonilla
Here’s Greg’s NEW NORMAL:
6:00 AM - Adelia mixes and administers medications and nutrition through Greg's feeding tube.
7:00 AM - Jim or Adelia administers the first of 4 "breathing treatments" per day. Greg inhales medicine through his ventilator to loosen the fluid in his lungs. Then Jim or Adelia "suctions" Greg, inserting a catheter down his trach which is attached to a suction machine. This pulls fluid and thick mucus out of Greg's lungs that is unable to cough up.
8:00 AM - Jim does physical therapy exercises and stretching. He then gives Greg a bed bath or shower (lifting from bed into his power wheelchair and then lifting him from toilet to shower chair and then back to wheelchair)
Noon: Adelia prepares another tube feeding which includes supplements and another breathing treatment.
4:00 PM Another tube feeding and breathing treatment.
8:00 PM Final tube feeding and breathing treatment.
9:00 PM Jim lifts Greg into bed, checks the fluid levels on his ventilator, attaches the ventilator to Greg's trach, and inflates the "cuff," which enables his lungs to relax, letting the machine do all the breathing for him overnight. With the "cuff" inflated, Greg is unable to speak or make any vocal noises.
And Jim and Adelia sleep with a baby monitor in case something goes wrong. Greg sleeps with his cell phone nearby. Overnights, Greg's son, Greg Jr. assists him using the urinal and turning over in bed. Lord, bless this loving family!
Now he and his family are facing extreme financial hardship because of life sustaining medical expenses.
Many of you know Greg Smith as the "The Strength Coach" who has inspired MILLIONS of people. Greg has touched over 2 million (no exaggeration) with his award-winning PBS documentary on resiliency and inner strength. Greg is a true champion on how to bounce back when the odds are not looking good. Thousands more have heard his keynote speeches, radio shows and podcasts, read his books, or seen media coverage in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal and many others. He’s done so much for many of us, now it’s our turn to help him.
Greg has beaten the odds, over and over. He’s lived a rich and full life despite at the age of 3 being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. All his adult life, he has been "skin & bones," using a power wheelchair since the age of 13.
The fact that he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1985 is a testimony to his inner strength. What severely disabled person does that. But since he crossed the burning sands at Arizona State's Alpha Theta chapter August 24,1985, he has taught thousands of his brothers a deeper meaning of the word "strength."
The way he has embraced life with a severe disability has motivated and inspired everyone he's met. On March 25, 2016, Greg turned 52-years-old! That equates to over 3 ½ times the life expectancy that doctors gave his parents!
Before the stroke, Greg was very independent. He was driving his adapted minivan to go wherever he wanted and needed little assistance after getting up and ready for each day. Now, Greg has lost most all of his physical independence. Please help Greg beat the odds again.
Financial Crisis
Greg was rejected by the Mississippi Medicaid Waiver program for elderly and disabled. This would have given the Smiths 35 hours per week of personal assistant care. Why didn’t they get the help? Because Greg helped once to pay for his daughter’s tuition!
And while Greg was in intensive care, a letter was sent from the Social Security Administration challenging the income Greg earned as a speaker. Because Greg was unable to respond, as he had several times in the past to the same letter, SSA suspended his benefits and he did not receive income from October through May. This has caused more financial burden on the Smith family!
These recent series of events have truly rocked Greg's world resulting in a complete dependence on his elderly parents and tremendous financial stress. This family needs your prayers and any financial help.
Tough times for Greg’s elderly parents.
Jim and Adelia Smith are in their mid to late 70’s and are now Greg's primary caregivers. To complicate matters, they are dealing with their own health issues. Adelia can no longer lift him. Greg, who was very independent six months ago, now can never be left alone and needs constant assistance.
When Greg's parents learned of his stroke, they immediately flew from their Mississippi home to Phoenix to be with him every day and night during his hospitalization. When he was discharged from rehab, Jim and Adelia took on the full-time role of caregivers and all of the responsibilities that come with caring for a ventilator dependent person with severe muscular dystrophy.
What does the future hold?
If anything happened to Greg's parents, he would probably end up living in a nursing home. To avoid this fate, his goal is to recover enough to build a successful business as a speaker, writer and producer of motivational material. He is also working on establishing a non-profit organization which will build a headquarters in Phoenix where the thin air is much easier for him to breathe. This will serve as his production facility and residence. He wants to leave a legacy and upon his death, production of disability and empowering media will continue and the home will made available for people with disabilities in need of transitional housing.
My personal testimony of “the Strength Coach”.
Greg is one of the most amazing individuals I’ve had the honor of knowing. He has been a source of strength for me for over 30 years. I have had the pleasure of working with him at KTAR Radio in the late 80's and he is one of the strongest people I've ever met. He truly lives up to his name as "The Strength Coach." Since leaving our station in '92, he has succeeded beyond measure in inspiring everyone who encounters his message.
What makes Greg’s life so inspiring, is instead of feeling sorry for himself, he has led an active life by example, participating in marching band from his power wheelchair, calling football and basketball games on the radio, leaving the safety of his parents care to fly across the country to attend Arizona State University and beginning a career in radio that led him to the role of Sales Promotion Director at the top station in Phoenix. As a sports reporter, he covered NBA and NFL games and was host of the Arizona Cardinals post-game show for 3 seasons. He went on to create a nationally syndicated radio show on disability issues called, "On A Roll," before focusing his efforts as a speaker and author. And Greg is the father of 3 young adults ages 23, 22, and 18!
A call to action. It’s not over. You can help Greg!
This family needs your help to pay for caregivers, medical expenses such as a power wheelchair that accommodates Greg's new limitations and a lock-down system for his van so he can be safely transported.
You know what you can do, even if it’s a few dollars. Let’s help Greg continue his work. Thank you and God bless.
Sincerely,
Diane Bonilla
Here’s Greg’s NEW NORMAL:
6:00 AM - Adelia mixes and administers medications and nutrition through Greg's feeding tube.
7:00 AM - Jim or Adelia administers the first of 4 "breathing treatments" per day. Greg inhales medicine through his ventilator to loosen the fluid in his lungs. Then Jim or Adelia "suctions" Greg, inserting a catheter down his trach which is attached to a suction machine. This pulls fluid and thick mucus out of Greg's lungs that is unable to cough up.
8:00 AM - Jim does physical therapy exercises and stretching. He then gives Greg a bed bath or shower (lifting from bed into his power wheelchair and then lifting him from toilet to shower chair and then back to wheelchair)
Noon: Adelia prepares another tube feeding which includes supplements and another breathing treatment.
4:00 PM Another tube feeding and breathing treatment.
8:00 PM Final tube feeding and breathing treatment.
9:00 PM Jim lifts Greg into bed, checks the fluid levels on his ventilator, attaches the ventilator to Greg's trach, and inflates the "cuff," which enables his lungs to relax, letting the machine do all the breathing for him overnight. With the "cuff" inflated, Greg is unable to speak or make any vocal noises.
And Jim and Adelia sleep with a baby monitor in case something goes wrong. Greg sleeps with his cell phone nearby. Overnights, Greg's son, Greg Jr. assists him using the urinal and turning over in bed. Lord, bless this loving family!
Organizer and beneficiary
Diane Bonilla
Organizer
Creve Coeur, MO
Greg Smith
Beneficiary