Stand by Dan, Catia, and Their Children

Catia and Dan met in February 2012 and fell in love. In September 2014 they were married and started their family. They have three beautiful children; Liam, 9, Lorenzo, 7, and Luna, 5. In early February everything changed. Dan is 43 years old with no health conditions. He left for work on a Monday morning like normal but collapsed shortly after. He was unconscious and required the use of AED pads to revive him before he was sent by rescue to Charlton.

Dan had 2 brain aneurysms, 2 strokes and 2 heart attacks when he collapsed at work. He was transported to Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston where he was intubated at ICU for 23 days with no neuro status and brain injury. He failed multiple trials of extubating and doctors chose to place a trach for his breathing and a G-tube to provide nutrients directly to his stomach.

He was also diagnosed with life threatening endocarditis with elevated levels of infection while at the ICU. He’s been hospitalized for over a month; 33 days spent at the ICU. He is now receiving care at Spaulding Rehab in Cambridge, MA. Dan has 2 surgeries in the upcoming months; 2 aneurysms that need to be coiled and a mitral valve replacement.

Dan and his family are looking at many months of rehab and hospital admissions that will accompany each surgery. Dan has started communicating, he is able to say yes and no and recognize people. He was able to be seated in a recliner for the first time in early March. Please consider helping the Antunes family on their journey during Dan’s recovery.

We will be hosting a fundraiser on April 26, 2025 to help the Antunes family. Please see flyer in the photo section for more details.