Get Grant Home for His Continued Healing and Rehabilitation

Help Bring Our Dad Home for His Continued Healing and Rehabilitation

Hello friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers—

We’re reaching out to share the story of our dad’s recent injury, hospitalization, and the path we’re on to bring him home for continued rehabilitation and healing. We hope you’ll take a moment to read and, if you’re able, consider helping us get him home to Ohio, where he can be surrounded by family and continue his recovery in the best possible environment.

In early June, while on vacation in Florida with our mom, our dad suffered a serious fall that changed everything in an instant. At first, he was able to get up and seemed okay for several days, but he began showing signs of confusion, dizziness, and nausea as we neared the end of our vacation. It became clear that something was very wrong. On their drive home on June 21st, his condition worsened. They stopped at a regional hospital (Coosa Valley Medical Center in Sylacauga, Alabama) when his confusion and symptoms became too severe to continue safely. At Coosa Valley, scans revealed he had a few chronic subdural hematomas—a dangerous collection of blood on his brain. It explained the sudden neurological symptoms and required urgent, specialized care. Given the seriousness of his condition, Dad was emergently transferred by ambulance from the regional hospital to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL, a large academic medical center better equipped for neurosurgery. He was stable for a brief period, but began becoming more unstable over time as he was being monitored. Early in the morning of June 23rd, he underwent emergency brain surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. It was an incredibly frightening time for our family, but the surgical team acted quickly to save his life.

He remains in the ICU at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL, today, where he continues to recover under close medical supervision. This stage has been anything but straightforward. There have been complications along the way, including: managing oxygen levels and respiratory support; treating infections with antibiotics; addressing fluid buildup in his lungs with diuretics; and navigating issues with confusion, speech, and swallowing. However, as the weeks have gone on, our dad has also shown remarkable strength and determination to recover and make it back home. He’s been working with the hospital’s physical and speech therapy teams when staffing allows (though weekends and holidays often mean reduced therapy time). There have been many small victories:

But the reality is that after brain surgery, recovery is a long, complex journey. He continues to need medical supervision, structured therapy, and 24/7 nursing-level care.

Our dad’s care team at UAB has recommended that he transfer to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for the next phase of recovery when he is medically cleared for discharge. He’ll need intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy every day to regain as much independence as possible. We have secured a bed for him at a rehabilitation hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, close to home, where he can be surrounded by family who can visit, advocate for him, and help plan for long-term recovery. This move is not just preferable; it’s essential. Being in Ohio means:

✅ More frequent, meaningful family support

✅ Easier coordination of follow-up care

✅ Better long-term planning for living arrangements and outpatient therapy

But getting him there safely is a real challenge.

Why We Need Your Help

Because of his medical needs—recent brain surgery, ongoing medical monitoring, limited mobility—he cannot simply be driven in a car or on a commercial flight. He needs medically assisted ground transport: a specialized ambulance van staffed with medical professionals who can monitor him and respond if needed during the long interstate trip (Birmingham, AL to Cincinnati, OH).

We have researched options carefully, and these private medical transport services are expensive, running between $5,000–$6,000 or more for this type of trip. Unfortunately, insurance has not agreed to cover this transfer because of the “nearest appropriate facility” rule—they will only cover inpatient rehab locally in Alabama. But keeping him far from family, in a city with no nearby support system, would severely limit his recovery prospects.

How You Can Help

We’re asking for help to cover the cost of this medical transport so that our dad can safely make the journey to Ohio and begin the next chapter of healing surrounded by family who love him. Your donations will go directly toward:

We know times are hard for many. If you’re able to donate, even a small amount helps us reach this critical goal. If you can’t donate, sharing this page with others or sending prayers and encouragement means the world to us.

Thank you for reading our dad’s story. Thank you for caring about helping a husband, father, grandfather, and friend make it home for the care he truly needs.

With heartfelt thanks,

The Brookover Family

Cheryl and Grant Brookover,

Jared, Katie, Edy Brookover,

Lori, Kyle, Elliott, and Owen Brooks

Amanda Brookover & Clay Setty