Brain Surgery Recovery Funds for Ed & Family

Hi everyone, I'm Madeline, Eve's sister and Ed's sister-in-law. On Sunday morning, July 24, Ed was leading his weekly sparring seminar that he loves teaching and uses as side money to help pay for Damien's Tae Kwon Do lessons. Ed was wearing full safety gear and following safety protocols, but in the process of coaching he accidentally received a severe blow to the back of his head. Eve took him to the ER suspecting a bad concussion. Instead, a CT scan revealed a large amount of bleeding in his brain (acute subdural hematoma), and he was immediately rushed to the trauma intensive care unit.

His condition continued to worsen over the next 48 hours, at which point the neurosurgeons unanimously recommended brain surgery to stop the bleeding and remove pressure on his brain.

Ed’s craniotomy was on Tuesday, July 26th. After seeing the full extent of the injury, neurosurgeons confirmed the surgery saved his life.

Ed is now making a slow but steady recovery, but it will likely be two more months before he can walk unassisted and another month after that to completely resume day-to-day activities, such as driving and working.

True to form, Eve and Ed have both been unbelievably strong throughout this entire ordeal. Eve has been by Ed's side at the hospital 24/7, missing Damien (5) and Rio (2.5), sleep, and meals, to monitor his every move and advocate for what he needs. Despite everything, they’ve been cracking jokes and smiling on FaceTime with the boys, who aren't allowed to visit the hospital.

But even with insurance, the medical bills for Ed's surgery and weeks-long hospital stay are substantial. And with Ed taking three months of largely unpaid leave, the Ramirezes will lose about 20% of their income for the year. Eve, who teaches ESL courses at NOVA Community College, also needs to take fully unpaid leave for next semester while she provides around-the-clock care for Ed and their two boys.

Please help us relieve some of Ed and Eve's stress by donating any amount you can. Let's help them worry less about their expenses, and instead focus their energy on recovery. Reducing stress helps Ed heal better and faster, which helps Eve and the boys.

Thank you for reading, and please share with anyone who might want to lend a helping hand to these two special people who have always shown up for us. ❤️

-Madeline