My siblings and I decided to start this GoFundMe for our parents because as many of you know, on November 29th, 2024 our dad experienced cardiac arrest at his home while setting up their annual Christmas light display that their community and many others come to enjoy every year. Thankfully, his wife, one of his daughters, two granddaughters and one of their boyfriends were there to help him. His oldest granddaughter (17) and her boyfriend were able to immediately start to administer CPR while his daughter was able to call 911 for assistance. His nephew who is on the Woolwich fire department lives less than a mile away and heard the page and was able to rush up to the house and administer an AED which shocked him twice and was able to bring him back to us.

The following Monday 12/2/24 he underwent a triple bypass surgery which ended up being just the beginning of a two month stay at Maine Medical Center and the most emotional experience our family has had to go through.

From 11/29-12/6 he underwent a total of 6 surgeries following his cardiac arrest incident. A balloon pump was placed 11/29 to assist his heart in pumping his blood. 12/2 was a triple bypass. 12/3 was the placement of two stents in his right groin to return blood flow to his leg as well as two fasciotomies - one on either side of his calf. 12/4 they removed 6 inches of his colon in the morning, then had to do a fasciotomy on his right thigh in the evening due to elevated pressures from his stent placement the day before. 12/6 he had his colon procedure to place his ostomy/stoma.

After the first week of chaos, making sure everything was ok, the following weeks consisted of multiple chest tubes being placed to drain a pleural effusion in his left lung, as well as fighting off a fungal infection in that same pleural fluid. 2 more surgeries on his abdomen/colon/stoma. He had a total of 2 wound vacs for multiple weeks as well as multiple chest tubes.

Spending Christmas in the hospital was rough for all of us, but we tried to make the best of it for Dad! He was in the Christmas spirit as much as he could be and was handing out snow globes, mugs with candy, and little treat bags that my mom would put together for all of his nurses and doctors! They were so appreciative and thankful for the “little things!”

These two months were the most terrifying, trying times for all of us but we stuck together as a family and made sure dad was feeling the love and getting the amazing care he needed (which he was because of the amazing doctors and nurses at MMC!)

He started walking with a walker on 1/5/25 - his birthday present to his oldest granddaughter who he has deemed his hero for giving such great CPR, despite never doing it before and saving his life!

When he was finally discharged from the hospital on 1/15/25 he went to New England Rehab for about a week and a half before finally coming home!

He has been very happy to be home and has nurses, PT and OT coming in weekly, as well as follow up appointments with all of his amazing doctors at MMC.

Our mom has had to take a leave from work (unpaid) to be home to take care of him, until he is able to be more independent and be home alone safely. He has made amazing progress in the 2 months of being home and we are hoping the use of his right leg will continue to improve.

His short term disability is helping, but it isn’t what they are used to considering he would average 50-60+ hours per week at his job prior to this.

We are all so thankful for everyone who has been praying for dad, there were people all over the country that don’t even know him, but sent their love and prayers to him! The doctors truly believe he is a miracle as the first week was so unsettling. Our parents are super appreciative of any and all thoughts, prayers, well wishes etc!

If you feel inclined and are able to donate anything, it would greatly help them with the bills that keep coming in during this time that neither of them are working. Even if you can’t send a monetary contribution, your prayers and well wishes are appreciated just as much!

Thank you all for reading our story and for caring about our parents and our family! May God bless you all! ❤️