January 14th, 2025, I received the call from Regions Hospital. "We received your number from our John Doe's phone in the ER. All he was able to do was open his phone. Do you know a Marcus Smith? He was found down and unresponsive at work. He has had a stroke." My younger brother, Marcus.

A stroke!! 9 days from his 47th birthday. A stroke from a clot in the left side of his brain that is too small to go in and extract it. A blood clot that has taken away his speech, his comprehension, his way of life.

He will have medical expenses from Ambulance, ER, ICU, multiple radiology tests checking the clot on the brain and the heart. Therapies throughout the day, lab and more.