Let’s Help Aaron Ketola & Family

Hello, my name is Collete Paulson and this is the story of my amazing older brother Aaron Ketola. 

In late August 2019 Aaron had started his day like any other, he took his children to school and then went to work, but while at work he began to experience some odd medical symptoms and due to the fast actions of he and his coworkers he was quickly transported to a hospital where it was discovered that he would require emergency open heart surgery. The surgery itself was a grueling seven hour procedure and the original timeline for his recovery from surgery was a hospital stay of six to seven days and then certain physical precautions for six weeks thereafter. 

Sadly this would not be the case for Aaron and his medical needs changed drastically in the first two days following surgery and his time in the cardiac ICU spiked to 38 days followed by a two and a half week stay in the rehabilitation center at the hospital. While on the rehab floor the focus was on building up his strength and learning how to use devices which will aid in his daily life PH (that's post hospital), and it is also where he has been working daily with occupational, physical, and speech therapists. In total his time in the hospital will be 57 days, a far cry from the original 6 to 7 days.

Aaron works full time in the financial industry and is a provider for two young children, however due to the nature of his extensive medical needs he will be unable to return to work for what is the foreseeable future,  which at this time we are estimating that to be approximately 12 months.  This campaign will help him with childcare costs, housing, and monthly medical insurance.

It has been a very long road and he has been incredibly strong and patient and in such good spirits for all that he has been through, but there is still a lot of healing and work to be done.  I am setting up this campaign because anything we can do to help relieve some of the financial burden that he will encounter would be one less worry for him to have during his recovery. Our mom Cecelia will be staying with Aaron to help in his recovery and she will be managing any donations we receive.

I think I can speak for all who know him when I say Aaron is an incredibly kind and generous person with a gentle spirit.  He goes out of his way for anyone and most certainly is there when others are in need.  Speaking as his sister I can say that I know I would not be the woman I am today if it were not for him, I have been truly blessed to call him my brother and also my friend.  Any support you can give whether it be through donating to this campaign, praying or sending positive thoughts, every little bit will make a difference and we would be so grateful.

On behalf of my whole family and Aaron, thank you from the bottom of our hearts (no pun intended) for taking the time to read our story and for all the thoughts and prayers we have received so far.