Hey there! It’s Maggie and Teresa, Chris’s niece and sister! Mid-November of this year, Chris suffered from a pontine (brain stem) stroke. It was seemingly out of nowhere. He was healthy, only diagnosed with asthma, so this has been truly a sudden change of pace. To top it off, Chris was about a week into his new job, in which new insurance benefits had yet to kick in.

This was already a life-altering diagnosis, but without insurance, this can truly seem impossible. Throughout the days afterward, we learned that the stroke was likely caused by a blood clot in his heart. He was diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome), most often caused by life stressors in a “weaker” heart. He received medical attention from neurologists and cardiologists to stabilize him in the meantime. But with brain stem strokes, recovery takes months to years of intense rehabilitation and therapy. His left side has been affected, as well as strength and speech, so he has the potential for partial recovery. Because of his insurance, he cannot be referred to or accepted by any stroke rehabilitation centers, physical therapy, or occupational therapy centers in the area around Fort Worth, TX. He has been released from the hospital to home, with only the help from his loving wife, Barb. We want to do what we can to help with the supplies they need, which cost thousands of dollars to pay for out of pocket - hospital bed, suction canisters, tube feedings and supplies, home therapists, and eventually rehab.

Here’s the tricky part, while Chris is an absolute goofball and the most loving and caring man, he is STUBBORN. We would like to keep this as quiet as we can from him in the meantime. We appreciate everything from our loved ones!