Help Richard Hunter (Elle Nouveau) Heal: Medical Emergency

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Richard Hunter—also known and loved in the community as Elle Blue Nouveau—suffered a severe heart attack that required immediate life-saving intervention. By Friday, April 4, Richard was placed on life support, where he would spend the next five days fighting for his life with remarkable strength and resilience.

Despite the seriousness of his condition and a few setbacks, Richard continued to fight. On Wednesday, April 9, doctors were able to remove ECMO support, and by Thursday, April 10, they successfully removed the Impella device. During this short but intense time, Richard underwent five surgeries and received four stents.

On Friday, April 11, doctors were finally able to remove his breathing tube, and he began the slow process of waking up from sedation.

As of today, Monday, April 14, Richard remains in the ICU under 24-hour care. He is awake and alert but is currently on dialysis to support his kidney function. Though he is showing signs of improvement, the road to recovery will be long and challenging.

Richard's friends and family have set up a GoFundMe to help with the overwhelming medical expenses and ongoing care. If you're able to contribute, any amount is deeply appreciated—truly, every little bit helps. Even if you can’t donate, sharing the link and keeping Richard in your thoughts makes a meaningful difference. Thank you all for your love, support, and encouragement during this critical time.

UPDATE 04.16.2025

We’re happy to share that Richard is showing steady improvement. While there’s still a long road ahead, his strength and determination have been truly inspiring.

Here are a few recent highlights:

️ He’s started working with an occupational therapist and has been able to sit up several times with their help.

️ He’s now working with a speech therapist as well.

His sense of humor—that one-of-a-kind Richard charm—is definitely back!

He’s been absolutely loving all the visits and support coming his way.

️ They’re slowly working toward reducing his oxygen, though he still requires daily dialysis.

The medical team is pleased with his progress, and we’re feeling hopeful and grateful.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for continuing to lift Richard up with your kind words, prayers, and positive energy. Every message, visit, and thought makes a difference. We’ll keep sharing updates as he continues this journey—we know he’s got this.