Chip Hatchell is currently in Critical Care at MUSC in Charleston, South Carolina.

Chip suffered a stroke on Monday night in the ER at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence and was transported via Ambulance to MUSC. Within 10 minutes of arriving at MUSC he underwent emergency surgery to remove the blood clot on his brain, along with the other occlusions and abnormalities, as well as put balloons in two arteries that were discovered to be too narrow. This allowed them to be able to enlarge those arteries.

Chip had a CT on Wednesday to look at his brain to determine the amount of swelling, and after they saw how severe it was they took him back into surgery to undergo a Craniotomy. This was a surgery that cut a rather large bony opening in his skull.  A section of the skull, called a bone flap, was then removed (and frozen) so they were able to access the brain that was underneath. This surgery was a must, because the doctors said that Chip’s stroke was a very large one, and because it was that large there is now extreme swelling to the right side of his brain. As of right now, Chip is completely paralyzed on his left side, but responded today to light brushes on his inner right arm and thigh, so they say this is definitely some promising news! He has been able to communicate with my sister through talking up until the surgery last night, but now they have him on a ventilator. He had been on a feeding tube, but Chip pulled that out yesterday, and later last night they were able to put it back in and
were able to start him on nutrition early this morning.

Currently Chip has a fever of 101.8  so they are running tests to see if they can figure out the cause. 

The good news through all this is that over the past several months, Chip has been going through test after test—doctor after doctor trying to figure out what is going on with him, because he KNEW something was not right and has had MANY try and tell him that he has MS. He needed a couple more tests to confirm the diagnosis because with MS you have to have three definitive tests to confirm it, but once he got to MUSC—the doctors have told Michele that in no WAY, SHAPE or FORM does Chip have MS! So that is a HUGE praise!!

I am starting this Go Fund Me account for Chip and Michele, because Chip has an auto glass business that he has had for many years, and has been unable to work due to his recent illness. Chip has been the bread winner for the family, as my sister has been in nursing school, and until she passes her boards she cannot practice as a nurse. They also have two sons, Brayden and Brenden and Brenden is in college at Anderson University. Chip also doesn't have any disability insurance since he is self employed, and the health insurance that they have is not a very good one. He has now had two brain surgeries and has already spent several nights in ICU and now the Critical Care Unit, so you can only imagine the medical bills that he is accruing. Along with their medical bills also comes the house payment, utilities, etc.  

They have many financial needs, and ALL donations will go straight to Chip and his family for needs as they arise.

Once he is strong enough, Chip will be moved into a Rehab care facility. 

If you are able to donate monetarily anything at all, I know that it would be greatly appreciated, but even if you are not able to donate financially then they still humbly covet are your prayers!

THANK YOU to each and everyone of you who have reached out to our family during this time of need!

Michele is my only sister, and Chip is my brother-in-law. For all of you that know Chip.....you KNOW that he is a GREAT man, an HONEST man, and a man who loves and puts God first in his life. He is so caring, and unbelievably generous to everyone! Chip loves his family and would do anything for them, so lets all show him some love and support for his family as he fights this giant before him.

I cannot thank you all enough for the prayers you each have lifted up on Chip's behalf! Each prayer is being heard and felt, so please continue to pray!