Support Ezekiel's Stroke Recovery Journey

Greetings everyone,

I'm reaching out to ask for your support during this challenging time for my 24 year old son Ezekiel. Ezekiel is a highly intelligent, vibrant and deeply loved 24-year-old soon to be 25 on July 14, with a bright future ahead of him. Ezekiel is currently a Neuroscience junior in college part-time.

On June 7, 2025 Ezekiel was rushed to the ER after being found to be unresponsive at home by his mom and this resulted in a 13-day stay in the hospital’s ICU.

Ezekiel was diagnosed with Sickle C disease as a baby, however he had never experienced any health related crisis before this based on his blood disorder condition.

Extensive tests were done while in ICU to try to determine what caused his blood cells to start being destroyed, platelet count to decrease and what could be done to reverse what was happening to his body. Several treatments including plasma replacement and red blood cell replacement therapies were done to help stop further decline in his health. After days of testing, the doctors concluded that his blood disorder was triggered into a life-threatening crisis event by a Parvo viral infection. Parvovirus B19 infection can be particularly dangerous for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) due to its potential to cause a transient aplastic crisis, where the bone marrow temporarily stops producing red blood cells. As a result of sickling of his blood cells during this crisis he experienced blood clots in his brain and was subsequently diagnosed with ischemic stroke.

After ICU, he was transferred to an inpatient physical therapy hospital for stroke recovery care on June 18, 2025 and was discharged on July 10, 2025 to a neuro transitional inpatient program, where he will need ongoing care and physical therapy for up to three months to help him regain the necessary skills to return to independent living at home with his mother and younger brother.

This unexpected health emergency has turned his life upside down, and he has faced extensive and costly medical care since being hospitalized and subsequently over the next few months as he continues with physical rehabilitation as part of his stroke recovery journey.

His mother has been providing round-the-clock care during this difficult time, supporting his physical and emotional recovery after this traumatic event.

Ezekiel also works part-time to support himself through school and contribute to expenses at home, but this crisis has significantly impacted his ability to work as he continues to be hospitalized and it is not known when he will be fully able to return to school and his job.

Our goal is to raise funds to help cover Ezekiel’s hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, medication, and ongoing supportive care needs, as well as to help us navigate the financial challenge of prolonged absence from work.

Please consider donating and sharing this campaign to help Ezekiel fight this battle. Every contribution, big or small, will make a real difference in his journey toward recovery and returning to his studies and normal life. Your kindness and prayers mean the world to us.

Thank you in advance for your compassion and support.

With gratitude,

Anika