Support Chris Rightsell's Road to Recovery

There are many people that know Christopher Rightsell. He is loved by his family and friends. He is well liked and respected at his work. As some of you know, Chris has been in the hospital since April 26, 2024. He had gone in for a severe headache that wouldn’t go away. On April 26th, the doctor performed his first craniotomy. When the neurosurgeon came out after performing the surgery, he told us that we were taking every twelve hours to see if he would survive. He indicated that what happened was that Chris had a severe sinus infection that caused his sinus cavity to burst. When that happened, the fluid went to his brain and caused the pressure on his brain. So they had to relieve the pressure by taking part of his skull out and put a tube in to drain the infected fluid. On April 27th, the neurosurgeon had to go back in to remove more of Chris’s skull. He also had a ENT surgeon that was going to perform a surgical procedure on his sinus cavity. After the neurosurgeon did his part of the surgery, he came out to tell us that he had done all that he could possibly do for Chris. He did send a fluid sample to the lab to see if Chris possibly had meningitis, which ended up being positive. When the ENT surgeon came out to let us know about her part of the surgery, she said that Chris had about ten years of polyps and puss in his sinus cavity. She said that she would have to go back in over the next several weeks to do more procedures. Over several weeks time, Chris was on a ventilator, had several emergency bedside procedures done, had lost the use of his right arm, had a procedure done to add burr-holes for additional draining for his brain to relieve pressure, had a procedure done for his peg tube, and a procedure for his tracheostomy. He also had a permanent shunt put in his brain to drain into his stomach. He is still on antibiotics for the infection.

Chris was in the hospital from April 26th until June 3rd when they transferred him to Craig Rehab Center. He has had, and still is, having to relearn how to talk, read, walk, and eat. As of today, we found out that he will be having another surgical procedure for the shunt. A CT scan showed that he has more fluid building back up again on his brain. The surgery is scheduled for July 12th. He will be going back to St Josephs hospital for the surgery. Then he is supposed to be transferred back to Craig Rehab Center until July 19th. That is when he will be released to go home, but will have to go to Craig for outpatient rehab. Chris is having another procedure done to put in a plate where his skull use to be. As of right now, we have been told that surgery will take place in August. We have been told that it could take up to at least a year before Chris can even try to go back to work. We also found out that Chris’s health insurance company are not going to cover any more of Chris’s care.

We are posting this because Chris and Shanna need help with their bills. Shanna is going to have to be Chris’s primary caretaker. Therefore, she can’t work. We are asking everyone to please pray for Chris’s continued progress. To be with him and Shanna on this journey. Chris, Shanna, and all of his care team could use everyone’s prayers. There is a genuine need for financial support for them as they continue this recovery period for Chris. If you are able to give financially, they will be forever grateful. If you are not able to contribute, please continue to say prayers for them. Thank you for your consideration, prayers and love.