Hello, my name is Madison, I am trying to raise money for my stepdad, who has raised me as if I were his own flesh and blood. He was the shoulder I cried on during my first break up, and cheered with me when I was accepted into college. He is one of the best people I've every met, please read my story about what has happened. It's alot but I promise my reasoning is there!

In the end of Feburary my dad was assaulted and suffered 2 brain bleeds and a skull fracture. He was quickly rushed to the hospital where he stayed 5 hours, with a lack of oxygen to his brain, before being lifeflighted to the medical center. In the medical center he had to have brain surgery and get half of his skull removed inorder to let his brain swelling reduce. He spent his 44th birthday in the ICU. We were told he had many strokes all over the brain, which later on was switched to "only one right in the middle of the brain". He was in the ICU for a total of 18 days, until my family was convinced to put him on palative care, becuase his doctors saw no hope. We did not miss a beat telling them how we have not lost hope and wanted to keep pushing for him, to keep fighting for this wonderful man who has always fought for us. It wasnt until day 19 we were told that the strokes we weretold he had were never there, doctors had been giving us incorrect information based on what they 'thought'! Very frustrating! 22 days after he was hospitalized I sadly had to come back to school and work inorder to keep myself caught up, and some funds in the bank. I wish I could stay with him and my family everystep of the way, but its not that easy. Raul spent 15 days on accute neuroscience floor in the hospital before FINALLY being transferred to a rehab facility. YES! You read correctly, A REHAB FACILITY! After doctors saying there was no hope, or crazy damage, he was transferred! He had shown enough to the doctors to be accepted and transferred to a rehab! Now you may be thinking, what progress? He started by just listening to us talking and telling him to blink more, rather than just keeping his eyes open. He also started tracking us with his eyes, and nodding or shaking his head to rerspond to yes and no questions. It has been about 2 weeks of him being in the rehab facility and he has his ups and downs. Over these 2 weeks Raul has not only spoken, but read! He still needs around the clock care as he cannot move his body but he is way more responsive and alert nowadays. He listens when my mom tells him to keep his fringers from staying curled up. He even recognised a picture of my nephew!!!! We know this will be a very long road to recovery, and expect that he willkeep pushing right along with us.

I am asking for donations in order to help support my mom as she has not yet returned to work but spend every day either by his side or at home trying to figure out bills, next steps, or only trying to keep herself from falling apart. I'd like to raise enough money to not only help my mom with all the finances, but to also ensure getting the supplies Raul will need when he returns home can be provided without any additional stress on my mom. Anything helps! Whether you have anything to donate or not I'd appreciate you sharing this so more people can read about my amazing dad.