Get Antoine rolling again.

Antoine Campbell is one of the most stand-up guys you’ve ever met. He has selflessly given countless hours of his time helping the Copley community and beyond for many years, serving as the director of the Copley Youth basketball program.  He has mentored literally thousands of boys and girls through his work as an assistant principal in the Solon School System and Director of the SMAC Akron Basketball Program. He takes great pride in his family, coaching with his wife, Jodi, in life and on the court. His first team is always his kids, AJ, Tysen, Tyah and Jace, helping them to be the best they can be.

But Antoine can no longer stand on his own, so we’re asking you to stand up for him.

On January 20, Antoine walked into St. Thomas hospital to have back surgery for spinal stenosis. Though any surgery has risks, this was supposed to be fairly routine. He was supposed to be discharged the same day and even had the crock pot set on the kitchen counter for one of his favorite dinners that night. However, when he woke up in the post op recovery room, he terrifyingly realized – he couldn’t move his legs.

His doctors are baffled – but the simple truth is, Antoine Campbell hasn’t walked since. 

On January 24, Antoine was moved to the Cleveland Clinic’s Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Center. He’d been working with the staff there to get used to his current reality – re-learning to do the most basic tasks we take for granted on a daily basis. Getting in and out of bed, taking a shower, even going to the bathroom. The man who has dedicated his life to lifting up others requires at least two people to do the same for him now.

On February 5th, Antoine suffered a serious setback which put his life in even more desperate straits. A massive blood clot lodged in his pulmonary artery, and had him literally fighting for his life, not just his mobility. After an incredible team effort by Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and others, they were able to dissolve the blockage.  His current prognosis is “tireless rehab- wait and see.”

As Antoine’s insurance has been pushing to get him out of the rehab facility as soon as possible, the Campbell's are faced with the immediate and overwhelming task of mounting bills and the prospect of  having to rebuild  much of the lower level of their house so he can get around in a wheelchair. This requires reformatting walls, widening doors, rebuilding the bathroom and kitchen, and possibly buying a wheelchair accessible vehicle.  

The medical and home remodel costs are staggering.  

Everyone who knows Antoine can tell you examples of ways he has helped them without batting an eye. Shortly after entering the rehab facility, one of his current players came to visit him. The first thing Antoine asked him was “How are your grades?” When the boy reluctantly said he was struggling in a class, Antoine’s first instinct was to tell the boy’s father, “You bring him here to see me every day while I am in rehab. We’ll work on his homework and turn those grades around.”

As anyone who knows the Campbell's can attest, Antoine and his wife Jodi would be reluctant to ever ask for help. He has been a provider and problem solver for so many over the years, this situation is totally foreign to him. Let’s help take some of the more immediate problems off their plate.

We’ve launched this Go Fund Me campaign on behalf of Antoine’s wife Jodi, his children AJ, Tysen, Tyah and Jace, to show “Coach” that his impact as a mentor has been far-reaching and dramatic.

This is just a first step, but a crucially important one. Feel free to reach out to any of us with any questions or ideas you have for helping Antoine and the family.  
 

Please donate to this Go Fund Me to help defray the enormous medical and home remodel costs. 

With great love and respect for our friend,

David and Michelle Benson
John and Angie Callaway
Kevin and Dyan Floyd
Rob and Natalie Wininger 


THANK YOU!!!