Help Greg Recover and Cover His Medical Bills

On January 7th, 2025, my older brother Greg had a mild stroke and fell at his home and was unconscious for 2 days. When I received a call from his close friend, he hadn’t heard from him since January 6th. I instantly called my daughter Kristena, who talks to him every day. I was also surprised I hadn’t heard from him for 3 days. I hung up with my daughter and called Wood Dale police to do a wellness check. When they got inside his home, the police and paramedics found Greg lying on the floor unconscious. He laid there so long he got septicemia, or blood poisoning, on top of having the stroke. He was admitted to intensive care and put on a ventilator at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village. He was unable to talk, write, or even point to letters on a letter board. He was restrained and drugged up to keep him calm. After about 3 weeks, there was concern he would not survive. In all that time, we could not communicate with him in any way. Finally, after almost a month, Greg received a tracheotomy. But there was still no way to talk, write, or communicate. At his age and situation, it was a very stressful and worrisome time. Greg was transferred to another intensive care unit in Des Plaines, still with the tracheotomy, for another 7 or 8 days. When he seemed more stable, he was sent to a care facility in Des Plaines. But his lack of communication, non-responsive condition, and the 8 weeks he was laid out made his prognosis grim. My brother Geoff, Chris, and I met with his doctor at the care center, and it was recommended we put him in hospice and let him pass. But we never heard him speak and thought that was not an option until we were sure there was no other way. The neurologist called my brother Chris, who was power of attorney and was managing this whole situation. She told Chris Greg was on multiple medications, and she was taking him off all medication to see if he was still able to recognize his family members. A few days later, they adjusted the tracheotomy in case he could try and speak. The next day or so, Chris received a call from a woman who told him Greg wanted to talk to him. He scoffed at the woman, telling her he can’t talk. She explained she was Greg's speech coach. Suddenly, Chris heard his voice after almost 8 weeks. And to top it off, he’s talking like a normal person! We all went there the next day, and I asked him if he knew his SS# so I could get into his bank account for financial statements needed for his care. He read off his SS# without hesitation! It was the first time in my life I felt I was witnessing a miracle. His lead physician told us to kill him 5 days before. This also proves to me there is always hope and never give up when it comes to family members or even yourself in these situations.

But for Medicare, his care is not 100 percent covered. The financial assistant for Greg’s case wanted the value of his home, car, everything. Greg has no funds for retirement, and now my brother Chris is paying all his bills. Medicare is taking all of Greg's Social Security right out of his bank account every month. We have no idea what the final cost will be, but Greg certainly doesn’t have the financial ability to pay for the cost. So, in a family conversation, we decided to try GoFundMe. Any help to pay Greg's bills is greatly appreciated. Greg is now off the tracheotomy, the hole in his throat is closed, and he’s trying to walk with therapy. It’s a miracle, and I know he’s going to walk out of there!! Thank you, Michael Rose,