Support Chris Pizzarro's Stroke Recovery Journey

In 2020 our son Chris Pizzarro was diagnosed with Endocarditis. Within the last four years he has undergone three open heart surgeries to help correct his illness.

On Monday October 7, 2024, Chris went the ER at Saint Lucie Medical Center to be seen for feeling ill. He was admitted and kept there for two weeks. Tests were run, and they discovered it was his Endocarditis once again. He was placed on IV antibiotics, and shortly thereafter, transferred to JFK Medical Center (an hour south of home); to be seen by his former cardiologist, who has performed surgery on him before.

On October 15, Chris was told he would need to undergo his fourth open heart surgery and faced very serious risks this time around. However, the surgery HAD to be performed, or he ran the risk of having a stroke. Chris agreed and was thankful for another opportunity to have surgery. The surgery was scheduled to take place at the surgeon’s next available opening, seven days later on October 22.

On the morning of October 22 while Chris was sleeping, he had a massive stroke within hours prior to his scheduled surgery. His girlfriend Alexia spent the night with him, and when the nurses came in to prep Chris for surgery around 4:30am, he was not arousing from his sleep as usual. Alexia instantly told them to call a Stroke Alert, and he was rushed off for a CT scan of his brain. We were told by the Neurosurgeon that Chris did indeed suffer a massive stroke. The stroke resulted in right side paralysis, right side vision loss, and left him non-verbal. He underwent an interventional procedure after the stroke to try to open up an occluded vessel, with minimal success.

Later that day and the whole week following, our family and close friends of Chris came to shower him and us with love, prayers, and support. It was the scariest day of our lives. Chris began engaging with us that day by squeezing our hands and nodding. We were so grateful to see he was still with us no matter his condition.

Over the next few days, we were told that Due to the stroke, his cardiovascular surgeon refused to perform the heart surgery on Chris due to inevitable complications that will occur.

Over the last few weeks Chris has been finishing his course of six weeks antibiotics. He is being treated as a stroke patient with an underlying heart condition. He has been working with physical therapy every day to gain his strength back little by little. This past weekend he was transferred back home to the Lawnwood Pavilion, which is a stroke rehabilitation center here on the Treasure Coast. We are very fortunate to have him back in town.

Due to Chris’s limitations and conditions after the stroke, he has required 24/7 care. We as his parents have taken unpaid family medical leave from our jobs to be there for our son since the stroke. His girlfriend, Alexia has been a major aid to Chris in his recovery with her knowledge & love. We have been taking turns spending the nights and days with Chris when Alexia works and swapping out care for our grandson Christopher.

These past couple months have been humbling and reminded us that life is short and that nothing is more important than family. Chris has an uncertain, and possibly long road ahead of him in his stroke recovery. When he comes home, he will need around the clock care. He still cannot walk, talk or properly use his right side. We as his parents will have to take the maximum time needed to help nurse our son back to health. We have already been out of work for nearly a month and bills are piling up and will continue to do so.

We write this story in hopes that our friends and family can find it in their hearts to donate anything you possibly can to assist us in our time of need.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts if there is anything you can contribute, even if it is just love and prayers.

We pray that our 36-year-old son Chris can make it through this and live to see a lifetime as the father that his four-year-old daughter, Ava and two-year-old son Christopher deserve. Thank you for your time.

Our love to all.