Message from Doug’s Family

Hi friends and family. This message comes not from Doug himself, but is written by Dan and Eileen, his parents. We wanted to let everyone know about Doug and share with everyone what happened in the past year and where things are currently going in his recovery.

Let us tell you what happened to Doug.

Almost one year ago, on Sunday, March 9th, 2025, Doug woke up and had a great morning. He enjoyed breakfast and took care of a few things: he ordered a battery charger for his jet ski, purchased an “It’s a girl” sign for his newest niece who was born just three days after the incident, and bought stickers for the students at CSAT to use with their CSAT bucks.

Doug's peaceful morning quickly ended when he had a hemorrhagic stroke and went into cardiac arrest. He was rushed to Buffalo General Hospital, where he underwent a craniectomy to alleviate a brain bleed. Doug was in a coma for almost 8 days and those initial first days were filled with efforts to manage his blood pressure and combat recurring fevers. Doug’s condition fluctuated, but once he became stable, on May 30th he was transferred to Select Specialty Hospital in Erie, PA.

Dan and Eileen traveled to Erie daily to be with Doug, and his siblings and their families frequently made trips to spend time at his side. While at Select Specialty, Doug worked on having his tracheostomy removed. However, on July 2nd, when an infection developed, he was moved to UPMC-Hamot in Erie, PA, where he underwent three additional brain surgeries. Throughout this difficult time, Doug fought hard, and so did his family. Doug was released from UPMC over Labor Day Weekend and moved to a local rehabilitation facility in Western New York. There, he received excellent care and is now able to move his arms and legs, speak, and grow stronger and healthier each day.

On Monday, February 2nd, after 330 days of hospitalization and rehab, Doug finally returned home. Doug’s journey has been defined by hope, resilience, and the unwavering presence of family and friends. Despite all he has endured, Doug’s spirit remains strong, and each day brings new milestones and renewed encouragement. As we continue forward, we are deeply grateful for your generosity, kindness, and ongoing prayers, which provide comfort and motivation for Doug and all of us.

Now, one year later, our focus is on helping Doug continue to get healthier, stronger, walking, and thriving again. We deeply appreciate your concern, thoughtfulness, prayers, and support, but Doug needs you now more than ever. Many of the rehabilitation services Doug requires are not covered by insurance, and medical expenses are mounting. We have set up a GoFundMe account for him and hope you can help Doug. If you are unable to contribute financially, please know that your continued prayers are equally important to us.

We are raising funds to help cover the cost of:

• Specialized outpatient rehabilitation and therapy

• Equipment and supplies not covered by insurance

• Ongoing care and support for Doug’s recovery

• Transportation to and from appointments, therapies, and events

• Anything else he might need

Although this journey has been incredibly challenging, there were many triumphs. Doug’s determination and the love from all of you have made a tremendous difference. We remain hopeful for continued progress and brighter days. Your support—whether through the GoFundMe or simply reaching out with words of encouragement—means the world to Doug and our entire family.

Thank you for standing with us and for helping Doug as he works toward a full recovery.

Sincerely, his family,

Dan & Eileen Whitehead, Steve & Erin Stillman, Kevin & Ashley Whitehead, and Scott & Liz Whitehead and his 11 nieces and nephews

Jake, Johnny, Ryleigh, Madelyn, Eli, Owen, Jude, Reese, Emma, Rory, and Millie