Help Support Our Dad's Recovery After Medical Crisis

Dear friends, family, and compassionate souls,

We are reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for your support in our family’s time of need. Our dad, Paul Schoenbaum, has been facing a devastating and rapid health crisis since late February—and we are now fighting not only for answers but to give him the care and support he needs to survive and hopefully recover. He has been struggling with an undiagnosed brain condition, possibly linked to a left temporal hemorrhagic stroke. Over the last month, his condition has rapidly worsened, leaving him unable to care for himself and in need of constant support.

What Happened:

On February 26th, our dad’s life changed dramatically.

While at work preparing for a procedure, his assistant noticed something was very wrong. Thankfully, he works at a hospital, and they were able to rush him to the ER. His blood pressure was dangerously low (70s/40s), and he had gone into septic shock. He was also diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. After briefly stabilizing, he declined again and was airlifted to a larger hospital. That night, we learned he had gone into acute renal failure.

Over the next few days, his condition remained critical. He was disoriented, weak, and struggling cognitively. Brain scans showed no stroke or abnormalities at the time, but something wasn’t right. He was discharged only four days later—still very weak and using a walker—with a referral for a skilled nursing facility (SNF), which he wasn’t immediately placed in. Our family cared for him at home in Pagosa Springs until he could be admitted on March 10.

During his stay at the SNF, his cognitive issues worsened. We knew we needed better answers. He was hospitalized again on March 15 due to worsening pneumonia, and on March 31, a chest x-ray showed the infection was still worse than before. His primary doctor suspected possible brain damage from oxygen deprivation and sepsis. He referred us to a neurologist, but the earliest appointment was 2–6 weeks away.

We couldn’t wait that long.

On April 6, we brought our dad back to Los Angeles to seek better care. He was admitted to Tarzana Hospital the next day. Since then, he’s undergone an MRI (which showed an old stroke and hippocampal shrinkage), a spinal tap, extensive blood tests, and more. Despite all this, doctors are still trying to understand why his mental state has declined so rapidly. Dementia has been mentioned, but not confirmed—his neurologist wants to wait the full six months to see if there’s any recovery once he’s out of the hospital and away from potential hospital delirium.

He's now been hospitalized for nearly a month and is still declining. He lost the ability to eat and recently had a feeding tube placed. We are praying that proper nutrition can help him regain strength.

The next step is placing him in a Board and Care facility in Canoga Park, where he can hopefully stabilize in a calm and supportive environment.

How You Can Help

The road ahead is uncertain, and the financial strain of providing the care and medical attention he needs has become an insurmountable challenge. We are seeking your help to fund the following:

· Ongoing medical testing to pinpoint the exact cause of his condition (not covered by insurance)

· 24/7 personal care to ensure he is safe and comfortable, as he cannot be left alone.

· Specialist consultations and follow ups to determine the best treatment and management plan.

· Medication and other essential treatments to alleviate symptoms and manage his condition.

Our dad is a caring, dedicated man who has helped countless others through his work in healthcare. Now, he needs us.

If you are able to contribute, any amount helps. Even if you can’t donate, sharing this page means the world to us.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for your support, love, and prayers.

Troy + Jess