On Saturday, November 15, 2025, while working outside, Ben McKay suffered a sudden brain bleed (hemorrhagic stroke) caused by an extreme spike in blood pressure. After receiving prompt initial care at Angel Medical Center he was quickly airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC where he spent 4 days in the ICU and is now currently being treated in a step-down unit. Since the bleed was deep in his brain and extended into the ventricles, it was considered serious; surgery was not performed due to the location. The bleed is currently under control and stable and now we wait for his body to heal itself and monitor the pressure in his brain. Ben and his wife, Kaitlin, just welcomed a baby girl to their family in August and Kaitlin had just started back at her teaching job with Macon County Schools the week he had his stroke. She has remained by Ben’s side in the hospital while her family has kept their baby girl and her son. Ben is experiencing left sided weakness and partial paralysis as well as resistant hypertension. At this time he is unable to walk unassisted or use his left arm, which happens to be his dominant arm. He is receiving some physical therapy while in the hospital and we have hope that he will walk again and regain use of his arm. It is too early to say how long it will take to recover but we have faith and trust that God can and will heal him. The doctors have had a difficult time controlling his blood pressure but the last 24 hours have been very promising. Once Ben’s blood pressure is stabilized with medication he should be released to an inpatient rehabilitation facility where he will receive intense physical therapy and work towards full recovery. He will require full time care at home until he can walk again on his own and Kaitlin will need a strong support system to help care for their children and Ben. Ben is their main source of income and will be out of work for the foreseeable future. Kaitlin must return back to teaching after Thanksgiving since she has already taken maternity leave this year and has used her sick days to be with him in the hospital. I humbly come here today to request financial support to help cover some living expenses, bills and his rehabilitation expenses as they navigate this difficult journey. Ben is currently without health insurance, making the financial burden even more significant. Any amount will lessen the financial burden and every donation is appreciated more than we can begin to express. An online auction is currently being coordinated as well and will be announced as soon as we have a date. On behalf of Kaitlin and our entire family, we would like to thank you for the continued prayers and support. Ben has a long road ahead of him but there has never been a day in his life that he walked it alone because of people like you all. May we continue to walk beside him and lift him up as he learns to walk again.

With love and hope.