Help Bring Aaron Home After a Stroke

My name is Shawn Buck, and I am a very close friend of Aaron Givens and his partner of almost 20 years, Kerrah.

On Sunday, August 17, while celebrating Kerrah’s birthday with a special dinner in Chicago, Aaron suddenly began experiencing weakness and balance issues. Kerrah quickly called 911, and he was rushed to Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois.

At the hospital, doctors determined that Aaron had suffered a major stroke. Emergency surgery was performed immediately to remove a blood clot, saving his life.

The Road Ahead

Aaron has been hospitalized since that day and is not expected to get transferred to Wisconsin until Monday. Unfortunately, his transfer to St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee must be done by ambulance. The cost of this specialized transport is not covered by insurance and is estimated to be as high as $10,000 out-of-pocket.

On top of this, Kerrah has been at Aaron’s side every day since his stroke, incurring significant hotel and travel expenses in Illinois. Once Aaron is home, he will face a long road of therapy and recovery. He will be out of work for some time, and Kerrah will also be on FMLA leave to care for him as his primary caregiver.

How You Can Help

I don’t often ask for help, but this is a moment when our community can truly make a difference. Your donations will go directly toward:

• The ambulance transfer to Milwaukee

• Medical expenses and therapy costs

• Living expenses while Aaron and Kerrah are out of work

• Hotel and travel costs already incurred during his hospitalization in Illinois

Anything you can contribute—big or small—will help ease the burden and allow Aaron and Kerrah to focus on what matters most: his recovery and healing.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generosity, prayers, and support.

-Shawn Buck-