On March 24th, 2026, everything changed.
While on vacation with his family in Pensacola, Florida, our brother and friend Nick Parsons suffered a devastating brain stem stroke—one of the most serious and life-altering types of strokes a person can endure.
Just days later, on April 3rd, his condition took a sudden turn for the worse as the stroke began to expand. Nick was urgently airlifted to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, a Level 1 trauma and neurological center, where doctors were able to stabilize his condition.
Since that day, Nick has been fighting for his life.
He has now spent almost four weeks in the hospital, including 14 days in the Neuro ICU.
Nick is still here. And that matters more than anything.
Through this unimaginable situation, we have witnessed God’s hand at work—protecting Nick’s life, answering prayers, and giving us hope in moments that felt hopeless.
Nick is awake.
He can hear you.
He understands everything.
He feels every emotion.
But right now, he cannot speak.
He has limited movement on the right side of his body, and very little—if any—control on his left. Imagine being fully aware, but unable to communicate your thoughts, your needs, or your feelings beyond small gestures.
And yet… Nick is fighting.
There is hope.
Nick has several critical factors working in his favor:
He is young and healthy
The stroke affected only one side of his brain stem
His mind is sharp and fully aware
And if you know Nick, you know this above all else:
He is a worker. A fighter. A man of determination. Some might even call him stubborn
He is ready for the work of recovery. He wants his “to-do list.” He’s prepared to give everything he has to get his life back.
A door has opened—but it comes at a cost.
Through incredible provision, Nick has been accepted into Shepherd Center in Atlanta —one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country, specializing in complex neurological and brain stem stroke recovery.
This is exactly where Nick needs to be.
But the cost is overwhelming.
Estimated $200,000 for an 8-week rehabilitation program
Over $30,000 for the emergency transports alone
Multiple hospital stays, including ICU and step-down care
Ongoing therapy, medical care, and long-term recovery needs ahead
Nick is self-employed, and the family’s insurance coverage is inadequate for a catastrophic event like this.
He was the primary provider for his family—and right now, everything is uncertain.
This is where we come together.
Your support will directly help:
Get Nick the life-changing rehabilitation care he urgently needs
Provide financial stability for his family during this time
Cover ongoing medical expenses as he continues his recovery journey
Over 400 people have already stepped in—and it’s been incredible to witness.
If you’ve given, thank you. Truly.
If you’re able to give, any amount makes a difference.
And if giving isn’t possible right now, there are still powerful ways to help:
Share this story
Rally your community, church, or workplace
Host fundraisers—some have already done “Round Up for Nick” campaigns or even lemonade stands to contribute
Every act of support matters more than you know.
We are praying boldly.
For healing.
For provision.
For strength.
For a miracle.
And we believe Nick’s story is far from over.
Thank you for standing with him—and with his family—in this fight.
My parents, Jeff & Emily Stephenson, have a non-profit ministry called His Invisible Hands. If you’d like to donate through their ministry and get a tax write off their business venmo account is @Emily-Stephenson-35 or you can go directly to their website at to donate https://www.hisinvisiblehands.org/about-2