Rich Heath and his family

Hi my name is Kerry Nowick and I am organizing this fundraiser for Rich Heath on behalf of Kathleen Mango.

A close childhood and lifelong friend of mine, Rich Heath was tragically struck by a vehicle March 24, 2022 while crossing the street in Florida. Rich was hit head on by a vehicle while walking across the street. The car hit Rich with such an impact it caused him to land on the vehicle’s windshield and then he was ejected off the vehicle and thrown to the ground. The impact caused Rich to lose consciousness and lose his pulse. Luckily enough, there was a couple dining nearby who witnessed the accident and were medically trained and were able to perform CPR on Rich and keep him breathing while help arrived.

The impact of the accident left Rich with 2 severe brain bleeds causing massive brain trauma which has left him unresponsive and in critical condition. As a result of the accident and the ensuing medical interventions, Rich has developed pneumonia and may need a tracheotomy.

Rich is being treated in Orange Park Medical in Jacksonville, Fl. The fight to keep him alive is just one step, and the next is diagnosing the severity of the brain damage.

As a result of the accident, Kathleen and Amelia (Rich’s fiance and young daughter) were forced to relocate to Jacksonville along with his parents while he undergoes treatment. Kathleen wants to devote 100% of her time to tend to and take care of her fiance. Kathleen and the family are praying that Rich will make a return to a stable condition and survive the damage of this severe accident.

Just to give you an idea of Rich as a person (I know our lifelong, hometown mutual friends already know this!) but Rich is the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back. Literally! Even if his shirt was dirty and sweaty with his day’s work. He is the type of person who would offer his help and advice if needed whatever the time it took. He always cares to help others and he does so very selflessly. Rich is a father that worries endlessly about every little thing that could potentially cause harm to his daughter. For example Amelia was born shortly before Covid. When it came time for the family to meet Amelia, Rich hung a sign outside their front door that read “please wear a mask, and wash your hands with the provided hand sanitizer.” This was something we like to tease him about because of how neurotic this new born child made him become.

Rich and I grew up together and have been the closest of friends since we were 13. We are now 39, but in the past 26 years of our lives , Richard has not only been an amazing and caring best friend but he has watched out for me like a brother. In every up and down stage of my life, Rich was always the one friend I could call and count on for being there for me. No matter the time or what he was doing, he always guided me like a sister.

Through the years I was blessed to see him find the love of his life, Kathleen Mango and watch them bring the cutest, most adorable, and kindest little girl into this world, Amelia Heath. Proud to call myself Aunt Kerry, I have had many awesome moments and memories with all 3 of them.

We were lucky enough that the brain surgery was a success and they were able to keep Rich alive. This being said, the past few days have been more than difficult for Kathleen. Not only is she worried for his life, but she has left work and is staying at local hotels to be close to Rich.

It has now been 5 days since Rich’s accident and the costs for Kathleen and Amelia to stay locally are starting to mount. Without work and help, Kathleen is running out of money to stay by Rich’s side and take care of their beautiful daughter. Without a firm future diagnosis, the road ahead appears to be very long for this loving family of 3.

I am seeking out help and donations to support Rich's fiance Kathleen and his daughter as they bounce from hotel to hotel, incur transportation costs, additional unexpected living costs, and potential lifelong medical care and expenses in the most hopeful scenario that Rich makes it through this accident.

Both Rich and Kathleen are not only my dear friends but they are family to me. Rich and Kathleen are not the type of people to ask for help but I am reaching out now to their friends and family in an effort to alleviate some of their pain in the only way I know how, by coming together.

The road to recovery at this time is going to be a LONG one for Rich, and this is “prayers in hand” that he makes it through the next few days. We hope his road is long as that means he will have a road to live and walk on.

We could really use everyone's prayers, support, and love.

Any donations would be more than lovingly appreciated and could help support and save this family at the most critical time. I thank anyone in advance for any support that they may give and for anyone that knows Rich and Kathleen personally, please kindly share this post.

I will be continuously sharing and giving updates on Rich’s status as the days progress.

Thank you all. Any help means the world to Rich’s beloved family and myself.

Kerry Nowick