James Mercaldo

I have been selling real estate for 18 years and I owe a great amount of any success I have been awarded to my right hand man and great friend James Mercaldo. James suffered a massive stroke that his wife Kelly will describe with more detail below. James is an outstanding contractor who always made me look good around any clients that we worked with together. He handled all of the home inspection repair work my clients faced and also was "Johnny on the Spot" if an unexpected issue arose during a walk-through, many times working after hours to get the job done. He also did lots of work for my family, from turning a screened in porch into a four seasons room, to exterior repairs, or to helping me hang a picture straight on the wall! James is a tedious worker, a skilled craftsman, and a tireless laborer who often works long hours /6 days a week. Although he was the consummate professional, he also has a great sense of humor and we typically crack each other up when we are together.

His accident has shocked and devastated me. Many of you reading this will not have had the privilege to have met James, but I would greatly appreciate any help you can provide to his family. He has a wife and two children that he adores and talks about often, son Andrew, and daughter Marisa.

A message from his wife Kelly: To those who know my husband James Mercaldo,

Two weeks ago he suffered a massive stroke that left his right side paralyzed and unable to speak. The clot destroyed the entire left side of his brain and I was told three times in one week that he would not survive the day. But as you know, James is tough as nails and fought hard. Not only is he with us but he is slowly gaining sensation and movement. He was born a leftie and taught himself to be ambidextrous. The surgeon says this is his saving grace as his brain was already trained to rewire itself and saved his capacity for language. Today he can utter a few words and tries daily to sound out syllables. His doctors and nurses are astounded at this miracle man and come from all over the hospital to visit and check on him.

James was our sole source of income and my best friend. Together we are trying to get him the best care possible so he has every possible chance for a full recovery, something no one believed possible until James proved them all wrong time and time again. The doctors told me my husband would be a vegetable on a ventilator forever but now they strongly recommend James go to a facility in Richmond called Sheltering Arms and follow up in Georgia at a facility called Shepherd Center. The Georgia facility does not accept our insurance. We do not have much saved as most of our expendable income paid his extensive medical bills for his back.

James has always been willing to help a friend or stranger, gave of his time and money to anyone in need and has been a good man his whole life. I am not too proud to ask for help for him in his darkest hour in the biggest fight of his life. If any of you touched by my husband’s kindness and generosity would like to bless him for it, now would be a great time to partner with us in his recovery. If nothing else, we would absolutely appreciate your prayers and support as we know God will hold James in His hand through this ordeal.

Thank you, Kelly Mercaldo