Cooks For Christ: Frankie Rivers

Frankie is 59 years old and resides in Florence. He and his wife, Robin, have been married for 31 years and have two children, Evans and Mary Allyson. Frankie has always maintained a very active and healthy lifestyle and had never been ill until July 2016, when he suffered from a ruptured colon requiring emergency surgery. He was hospitalized for 22 days.

In December 2016, he endured extensive surgery to resection his colon and was hospitalized for 12 days. In February 2017, he suffered from a severe stroke and a CAT scan revealed a large benign brain tumor. The stroke left him with left side weakness requiring extensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, speech, occupational and physical therapy.

He was transferred by ambulance to MUSC, and after 4 days he was discharged to Health South Rehabilitation for 14 days then was released with continued outpatient rehabilitation at McLeod Health Rehabilitation. In May he underwent craniotomy surgery at MUSC to remove the brain tumor.

Two weeks later, he developed a rare and deadly form of bacterial meningitis and septic shock. He was flown to MUSC and admitted to the Neuroscience ICU and placed on the ventilator for 16 days. He required
another craniotomy to remove the abscess.

Due to the severity of the infection, he will require 6 to 9 weeks of intravenous antibiotics after the infection clears in his brain and bloodstream. Frankie has only worked 51 days in the past year and recovery will be a very long process.

Cooks for Christ is raising funds to help with loss of
income, medical and travel expenses, maintaining medical insurance premiums, medications, supplies and possible handicapped modifications to his residence.

The money raised will be withdrawn by Frankie's friend John Garrett and will be deposited directly into the Frankie Rivers Medical Fund, an account set up by John on Frankie's behalf.