Help Mirko get back on his feet

Hi. My name is Ivana and here’s a picture of my brother, Mirko, with his youngest student - his niece. Mirko is a tennis coach. In fact, ever since he was a kid, he loved tennis; our dad would lug a net everywhere with him so that he and Mirko could unfurl it on any playground and play whenever they felt like it – which was day and night!

Eventually, Mirko became an excellent tennis player and then a coach. He loves teaching his students – be they kids or retirees, beginners or future pros – and they love him in turn! There aren’t enough hours in the day for Mirko to say "yes" to everyone’s requests, because, as one of them said, “My lesson with Mirko is the hour in my week I look forward to the most. Whatever problems I’m dealing with, I always feel better after our lesson.”

Unfortunately, it’s Mirko now who has a major problem. He was assaulted two weeks ago in Walnut Creek, resulting in a life-threatening situation, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), lung damage and neurological problems among other things. Mirko's recovery will take months of rehab and care-giving, and it is uncertain when he can return to work. Mirko's primary family support lives abroad. Please help make a difference in Mirko's recovery so he can get back to the thing he loves most – the tennis court. Your contribution will be used exclusively for his treatment and expenses. We appreciate you!