Help Steve Recover from Boat Fire

Hello Family & Friends,

On behalf of Steve Zuroske, some of our family is reaching out to ask you to join us in providing help for Steve due to the difficult circumstances he has been through. Many of you know that Steve has been living on a houseboat in New Orleans for many years. During Hurricane Katrina, Steve’s boat was swept away. Afterward, he obtained a new boat and has lived at the Orleans Yacht Harbor for the past 16 years.

On June 12, 2022, the microwave on Steve’s boat started an electrical fire. Steve tried to put it out but was unsuccessful. He then began removing his belongings from the boat and caught on fire during the process. He was taken to the hospital with 3rd-degree burns on over 40% of his body. Shortly after entering the hospital, he had surgery for skin grafting from his body and a donor. Another surgery was done on June 30th for more skin grafting. During this time, they have done hydrotherapy to remove debris, clean the wound surface, and prevent fluid loss through the burned skin. His final surgery was on July 26th.

Steve was transferred to a long-term acute hospital for continued wound care on August 12 after being in the hospital for two months. He was released on September 26 and is currently homeless. It is uncertain if or when Steve will be able to work again. In December 2020, Steve was riding his bike and hit by a car. At that time, he suffered a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. He attended rehab for a short time afterward, but he continues to have difficulties with word cognition.

After the fire was put out on Steve’s boat, they determined it to be a total loss and too damaged to live on. Steve only had liability insurance for the boat, which covered the removal process from the marina. We are in the process of helping Steve figure out long-term arrangements. We would like to raise funds for Steve in order to put a down payment on a boat. We would also like to help him obtain everyday necessary living items since he lost everything in the fire.

We appreciate your support in this difficult time Steve is going through. We are grateful for any donation you would be able to help with to support our efforts.