Our annual vacation was amazing, full of memories, beaching, relaxation, and family time. We all got home Saturday evening from our respective modes of travel. Like any other year. Home sweet home. But Sunday morning, Matthew awoke in his home, when he started experiencing severe neck pain, followed by vomiting and a severe headache. Fast forward to a trip to the ER soon after and we received a diagnosis... Matthew had a hemorrhagic stroke - specifically, a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Spontaneously. Unprovoked. Out of nowhere.

He was quickly transferred to Mount Carmel East Hospital, as they are a comprehensive stroke center. They started treatments, testing, and LOTS of lines coming out of every which way. Things were looking ok until Monday, where, during a routine angiogram, he had a seizure...again, random and out of nowhere. Thankfully, this did not worsen his brain bleed and the amount he bled was very little compared to what it could have been with an SAH. His particular type of brain bleed is typically random, devastating, and affects young people.. there are very little risk factors for his type of stroke. The last 90+ hours have been a whirlwind of testing, complications, and new terminology we all are very familiar with now. But it does feel like the storm cloud is lifting, as he made so much progress the past few days!

Through the grace of God, he is currently stable without any deficits, which is truly a miracle and a testament of the healing power of prayer and science. He has been a trooper through all the pokes and prods he has had. He has been working with so many specialties including physical therapy and occupational therapy to start regaining his strength. He has a very long road ahead, but he is up for the challenge. Our baby brother is a fighter. This has been one of the scariest events of our lives. We cannot express my gratitude for the love, prayers, thoughts, and texts we have received. Maria needs her Man of Honor at her wedding next month, and thank God, it seems like he will be there, standing beside her as witness. We have also felt such a presence from our mom throughout this experience... guiding us, which is truly such a comfort during the darkest trials we have faced.

We are also so grateful and impressed with the care we have received at Mount Carmel East in the Neuro ICU. The whole team, from NPs and doctors, to the nurses, techs, and various therapists, everyone has been top notch, truly.

Please keep Matthew and Alissa in your thoughts and prayers. We feel them. We need them. So many people have asked what they can do... this is a very real and tangible way to help. They will use this for medical bills and lost wages from him not being able to work for now.