Juli's Sea of Strength: Hope and Strength for Recovery

This is my amazing and beautiful mom, Juliann Bonavita. As many of you know, my family has been asking for prayers for her recovery, and we’d like to share her story.

A few weeks ago, my mom went in for a CT scan after weeks of struggling with an ear infection and persistent dizziness. The scan revealed an aneurysm in her brain, and further tests uncovered a second aneurysm. She had a procedure to insert a stent into one of the aneurysms, and we were hopeful when she woke up, was alert and eager to come home.

However, two weeks ago, my mom suffered a stroke. She’s since had two brain surgeries to relieve the pressure from the bleeding and a blood clot. She’s been on a ventilator and required a tracheostomy. Despite everything, last night we experienced a small miracle—my mom opened her eyes and recognized my dad and my siblings and I even smiling at us. Although the stroke has severely affected her right side, and she has a blood clot in her lungs, we’re holding on to hope and celebrating every bit of progress.

Anyone who knows my mom knows she loves collecting T-shirts and Hoodies from every place she visits, every concert she attends, and every holiday she celebrates. She also has a deep love for the ocean.

In honor of her love for both, we’ve started the “Juli’s Sea of Strength” campaign to let her know she has a sea of people cheering her on. Those who would like to purchase T-shirts can do so through our Bonfire fundraising page, with all proceeds going toward her care and recovery.

At this point, we don’t know how long my mom will remain in the hospital, and her journey to recovery is still unfolding. When the time comes for rehabilitation, we’re uncertain what that will look like or how long it will take. We are prepared to face a long road ahead, but with the love and support from all of you, we’re hopeful she’ll continue to make progress, one step at a time.

Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and support. Every donation, every shirt purchased, and every message of encouragement means the world to us and helps give my mom the strength to keep fighting.