Rick’s Covid Recovery

I am Stacie Rothrock. I am the sister-in-law of Rick Zabel, the husband of my sister, Tammy. I am creating this GoFund Me to help with Rick’s recovery, rehabilitation from Covid and Guillain Barre Syndrome, medical bills, and lost wages.

Rick was admitted to the hospital September 29th with Covid. He spent 3 weeks in critical care battling respiratory complications, several times coming close to being put on a ventilator. Tammy tried to work while also caring for him, spending many nights in his room to keep him calm so that the Bi-Pap machine could help him breathe.

He was sent to rehab on October 19th where he was able to be weaned down to only 1 liter of oxygen. He was walking with a walker and making great progress on his recovery. After 11 days in rehab, Rick was able to go home. We finally thought we were on the uphill climb out of this horrible pit that Covid causes. However, things quickly changed when Rick got home. Over the next week, he would experience such extreme weakness that he could not move his arms or walk. He suffered several falls at home due to weakness. He was taken back to the hospital and readmitted with what they soon diagnosed as Guillain Barre Syndrome. In addition, a CT scan showed Rick had suffered a stroke at some point in the preceding weeks. Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a disorder where the body’s immune system attacks a person’s nerves causing muscle weakness and even paralysis. Rick’s condition quickly deteriorated, and he was placed on a ventilator due to the paralysis and difficulty breathing on his own.

He remained in critical care and on the ventilator for 21 days. On November 23, still being vent dependent, Rick received a tracheostomy so that he could start rehab. GBS requires extensive rehab, and it can take months, even years, to fully recover.

Rick was transferred to Jewish Kindred on November 27th, where they are working to wean him off of the ventilator. He is looking at a minimum of 3-4 weeks at this facility for pulmonary rehab.

Once he is able to leave there, he will be moved to another rehab facility to work on regaining strength, as he is still unable to move his arms and legs. Tammy has continued to try to work during this time, but as you can imagine, medical bills are coming in, and Rick and Tammy are looking at months of rehabilitation. They have gone from two incomes to one. We want Tammy and Rick to be able to focus on recovery and rehabilitation and not feel the strain of worrying about medical bills and making ends meet.

Anyone that knows Rick, knows he is one of the hardest working men and would give you the shirt off his back. He has given to the community in so many ways. As a member of Northside Christian Church, he has helped build houses for those in need. He is an avid music lover and is a member of a band that has played locally for years.

We just want to get him healthy and home so he can get back to doing the things he loves - spending time with family and his “baby,” Paisley (his Yorkie), going to church, doing yard work, singing, and giving to others, like he so often does. Anything you can do to help Rick and Tammy would be so appreciated. Thank you!