John spent the day after Christmas much like he did any other off day, doing what he loves. If you know John, you know his passion for fishing. This day seemed as normal as any other, until it wasn't.

While fishing Lake Murvaul that morning, John recognized that something wasn't right when he lost feeling in his left hand and watched his favorite fishing rod slip into the water. He was able to call his wife, Nicole, but wasn't able to communicate his symptoms. The call dropped, and she called back. After a panicked game of phone tag, his wife realized something wasn't okay. She asked him if he was alright, and he said, "It's happening again." She knew what this meant and replied, "Where are you?" He simply stated, "Bridge." With no explanation other than God, they had friends on the lake at the same time. His wife was able to contact their friends and direct them to his location. The friends found John and got him to the hospital just in time to meet Nicole there. Carthage Hospital confirmed that he was having a stroke and transferred him to UT Tyler.

Once being admitted to the ICU, he seemed to be stable. He had slurred speech, limited mobility of his left hand, and delayed processing speed but looked seemingly okay. Doctors began looking for the cause of the stroke. After conducting a series of tests, they were coming up empty-handed. He wasn't getting any worse but was also not getting any better. On December 29th, he started to take a turn for the worse. The day before, he was able to stand and walk on his own, and now this was a task he could no longer do. A late-night MRI revealed a bleed on his brain. His wife was informed of the bleed and then told that she had to leave because visiting hours were over. She would have to return the next morning. The doctors started John on a series of medications to help with the bleeding and the swelling on the brain. The next day seemed promising as he was more alert, less sleepy, and even had a small appetite.

The next day did not go as well. Despite the medication, John's brain is still bleeding and still swelling. He was sent to surgery to have a piece of his skull removed to allow for swelling. Doctors cannot figure out what is causing the bleeding and why the swelling will not stop. All tests and scans show nothing of concern.

Update: After opening up his skull the doctor realized that it was much worse than they thought. He had suffered a massive stroke. Part of his brain was dead. The doctor had to remove the dead portions of his brain but was able to stop the bleeding. John will be sleeping for several days and we will see what functions are lost/remain after he wakes up.

His wife has been staying in a hotel during non-visiting hours throughout the night and living off of vending machines throughout the day. The emotional and financial toll is unimaginable. We often wish we could help but aren't sure what we can do. We believe in the power of prayer, so we ask you to pray for John and his family and for the doctors. By request of friends and family, we have created this account offering a way for you to financially help support Nicole and John during this unfathomable trial.