Emergency Medical Fund For Dan and Linda Mariol

Family, friends, fellow veterans, and kind strangers please read my dad's story below and give thoughtful consideration to helping my mom and dad.

Up until the evening of October 27, 2022, my dad Dan Mariol was a healthy, active, strong man. He spent his days tinkering in his garage, working in the yard, fishing whenever possible and most importantly taking daily care of his wife Linda who suffers from several physical disabilities. On the evening of the 27th, the day after his brother-in-law sadly passed away, my dad fell down his basement stairs and hit his head on the cement floor. He was unconscious and taken by ambulance to a local hospital where they determined his injuries were too critical so he was life-flighted to a Cleveland Clinic trauma center in Akron, Ohio. Dan remained in a coma for three agonizing weeks and was initially on a ventilator. He was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple broken facial bones, broken ribs, a pneumothorax, and additional serious injuries. While in the coma he developed pneumonia and a very high fever. None of us knew if he would ever regain consciousness and if he so, what would recovery look like? Would he be the same person we knew and loved? During the third week, his pneumonia had improved and he began breathing on his own with oxygen administered through his tracheostomy. When he did open his eyes and started to emerge from the coma we were so relieved and thankful but uncertain of what the future would hold.

On November 27, the day before Dan’s 75th birthday, he was transported to an acute long-term care facility in Bolivar, Ohio. Only a few facilities would even accept him due to the feeding tube, tracheostomy, and catheter. The insurance company only covered his first 2 weeks, and dad has been there now for 3 months, requiring mom to personally pay for the remainder, at $10,000/month. Thankfully, during this time Dan has made significant progress, and the tracheostomy and catheter have been removed and the feeding tube will be removed soon. He is talking more every week and eating regular food. His speech therapist works daily on memory skills, speech, and cognitive activities. Each week we notice more progress but he still has a long road of recovery ahead. His neurologist is amazed at his progress and has recommended that he be transferred to a facility that specializes in brain injuries with intense therapies. We pray that standing and walking will begin there. The transfer could occur this week BUT insurance again only approved the first 2 weeks. This facility is over $1000 a day and Dan will likely require much longer than that. In addition to these expenses, we anticipate modifications will be required at my parent's house to make it accessible upon his return home. We anticipate he will also require in-home therapy and care for quite some time. Mom continues to receive bills from the month spent at the hospital as well as the costs of numerous trips in the ambulance.

This experience has been emotionally, physically, and now financially exhausting for us. Out-of-pocket expenses have been unimaginable and funds are being exhausted. It is only because of such desperation that this Go Fund Me account is being set up. My dad is a proud man who would never ask for such help but I see the burdens being placed on my parents and it is time to ask for help. My dad has worked hard all his life (retired from the Timken Company after 44 years), has provided for and cared for his family, and has been very generous to others in times of need. He also is a proud veteran of the US Army serving in Vietnam.

If you could please find it in your hearts to also keep praying for his continued recovery. So many of his friends and family across the country have been praying for him since October and I know with certainty that this has helped tremendously with the progress he has made and is the reason he is with us today. So if you are unable to donate, please continue your prayers for dad’s continued recovery. Thank you!