Keep the "dough" rolling for John Akatyszewski

As you may or may not have heard, John Akatyszewski, 58 years old, and the sole proprietor of Ziggy's Donuts in Salem and Peabody, recently fell ill with Covid. Because John is the recipient of a transplanted kidney, he was at a higher risk if he contracted Covid.

On December 4, John was admitted to Salem Hospital with low oxygen levels due to Covid pneumonia. Because of the high Covid numbers in the hospitals, there are no beds at Mass General Hospital which is where his kidney doctors are located. After several days of being on 100% oxygen, and after re-inflating a collapsed lung, the Drs. had no choice but to intubate him and place him on a ventilator. He has been sedated and now in a medically induced coma to help his lungs breathe more easily and to give his body a rest. He is currently stable, but John is not out of the woods and is fighting for his life. We are hoping he survives, and if so he will have a long road ahead of him to recover fully which will include rehabilitation. Resuming his everyday activities, including making donuts to keep his businesses open, may not be possible for a long time.

Most of you know that Ziggy's is a cultural fixture in Salem, having been started by his parents Ziggy and Alice in 1964. John's hand-cut donuts, bismarks, and other delicious fried goods are what has his loyal patrons flocking to both donut shop locations time and again. The Salem location is currently open weekdays only to sell pastry, cookies and muffins which are being made by his sister, Patricia, and nephew, Jonathan. The Peabody location, started and run by his wife Pattie, is unable to open without John's ability to make the donuts. Ziggy's Donuts has been John and Pattie's only source of income for years. The Covid Cares Act for self employed individuals is no longer in place, and self-employed individuals cannot collect unemployment. There is currently no income coming into their household. Whatever little bit of income is coming into the Salem store is being used to purchase the food products to make the pastry and muffins and pay the utilities and rent.

We are asking for any donations no matter how small to be made to help John and Pattie. They own a home in Salem and besides having to pay health insurance, utilities, a mortgage, and taxes, there are other medical expenses for medications which John needs life-long to sustain his transplanted kidney which are not covered 100% by his health insurance. John and Pattie need your help until he can get back on his feet.

John’s family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers and your support.