From Crisis to Comeback: Help Neil Rebuild

On February 7th, 2025, our lives were turned upside down.

At 6 a.m., I received a call from a stranger through Facebook Messenger. A woman I had never met calmly told me that my husband, Neil, wasn’t well — she believed he had suffered a stroke. She handed the phone to Neil, who was slumped in his favorite red chair, barely able to speak. His words were slurred, and I could hear the fear in his voice. He told me he had collapsed at work after a sudden and severe headache. Thankfully, his customers quickly called an ambulance.

I stayed on the phone with him until help arrived.

What followed was a whirlwind of confusion and panic. It took some time to track Neil down at the Countess of Chester Hospital. A doctor asked me if I had anyone with me — before delivering the devastating news: Neil had lost consciousness in the ambulance, and scans revealed a severe brain bleed at the base of his brain. He was being transferred to The Walton Centre in Liverpool for emergency treatment.

At the time, I was thousands of miles away in the States, caring for my disabled mother. I found the first flight out of Logan International and made it back to England as quickly as I could, picking up our daughter from a friend’s house on the way to the hospital.

Neil was in intensive care, surrounded by tubes, machines, and uncertainty. He later underwent a tracheostomy to help him breathe. It took weeks of treatment before there was any sign of improvement.

Since then, Neil’s recovery journey has been long and difficult. He is now at Warrington Hospital, undergoing occupational therapy to learn how to walk again. He’s experiencing memory loss, vision impairment, and severe balance issues.

During all of this, I’ve had to manage Neil’s affairs without power of attorney — a frustrating and exhausting process. Sadly, I recently had to close his beloved shop. We simply couldn’t keep it running without him, and there wasn’t enough in his account to keep it afloat while he recovers.

In the meantime, we’ve been slowly working to make our small terrace home more livable — something we began with Neil’s inheritance and my savings. The goal was to create a comfortable, safe space for our family. Unfortunately, due to unreliable tradespeople, damp issues, and our own DIY efforts during the pandemic, we’ve had to redo much of the work. On top of that, we’re now facing a serious pest problem that needs immediate attention before Neil can return.

I work part-time while also caring for our daughter, and with Neil unable to work — and uncertain if he ever will again — our financial situation is stretched to its limits. The emotional, physical, and financial toll has been immense.

Neil’s recovery will be long, and the environment he comes home to will play a critical role in that process. Reducing stress and creating a safe, accessible space for him is essential as he adapts to life with mobility and cognitive challenges.

We’re starting this GoFundMe to ask for help covering Neil’s ongoing care, therapy, living expenses, and urgent home repairs so that he can recover with dignity and support. The funds raised will help:

- Make the home safe and accessible

- Resolve the pest issue and other urgent home needs

- Pay for therapy and recovery-related travel

- Support everyday living costs

- Handle legal and administrative needs related to Neil’s business and finances

We know times are hard for many, but any donation — no matter how small — will make a real difference for Neil and family.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.