My mom and dad (Laura and Greg Jones) were visiting with my family in Pittsburgh, PA when the unthinkable happened. Two days before their scheduled flight departure, I heard my dad call for my mom in a very worried and fearful tone from the second floor of my house. I rushed upstairs with my mom to witness the beginning symptoms of a stroke my father was suffering due to bleeding in his brainstem. As he complained of numbness and tingling in his rightside along with a loss of vision I immediately called 911.

My dad was rushed to the ER here in Pittsburgh where they discovered his blood pressure had shot up to just under 300 causing the bleeding. My dad would spend the next week in the Neurovascular ICU at UPMC Presby. The only thing we knew for certain during this first week was my parents were going to be spending an additional 3-4 weeks in Pittsburgh.

My dad is still hospitalized here and beginning two weeks of intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy. My mom remains as well spending every waking hour by his hospital bedside. More than a week after the stroke my father is still being fed through a feeding tube as he works to regain his ability to swallow. He still suffers from double vision and is relearning some of the basics like walking, putting on his shoes, and identifying everyday objects. 

The near and distant future for my parents are unclear at this point in time. Medical bills are certain to be through the roof. My father's ability to continue working as a painting contractor will be impossible in the coming months and highly questionable after that. My mom is beginning her second week off of work as she remains here in Pittsburgh to be with my dad. She said to me yesterday that she didn't know if she would be able to return to work anytime in the foreseeable future with the care my father will require at home. 

Any money you are willing and able to donate will go directly to off-setting the costs from medical treatment and an extended hospital stay. I also hope we can raise enough to subsidize the lost income they will face over the next few months. 

If you know my parents then you know how generous they have always been with what they have. I was never without as a child and never knew how tight money was. I wish I was in a place to be able to help them financially without having to ask others for help. Many of you have shared your sympathies and asked if there was anything you could do to help. Any amount you can donate will be accepting warmly and with deep gratitude. I am hoping that in a situatuon where I feel helpless I can offer them a little help based on your generosity.