<div>Hi, my name is Leslie, and I’m David’s wife and caregiver.
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<div>In August 2024, our lives changed in an instant. David suffered two strokes—first an ischemic stroke and then a devastating hemorrhagic stroke. He required emergency brain surgery and remained on a ventilator for weeks. David was declared brain dead. He had no corneal reflex, and we were told his scan showed no brain activity. He was actually sent for organ harvest.
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<div>Thirty-six hours later, I received a phone call from Southwest Transplant Alliance telling me that David’s neurological status had changed and he was alive. Organ donation was stopped, and our journey toward recovery began. To our family, David being here today is nothing short of a miracle and an answer to prayer.
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<div>The last two years have been filled with hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, countless appointments, and many hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. David has had to relearn things most of us never think twice about—talking, swallowing, sitting, standing, balancing, and moving his body again.
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<div>And he is still fighting.
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<div>Today, just over two years after his strokes, David continues outpatient rehabilitation. He remains dependent on a wheelchair for much of his mobility and needs assistance with daily activities, but he has made tremendous progress.
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<div>Recently, we witnessed another milestone we once could only pray for: David walked 67 feet using his walker during therapy.
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<div>He is strong. He is using his muscles. He is working hard. One of the biggest things holding him back continues to be severe dizziness and balance problems resulting from the damage to his cerebellum. We continue searching for anything that can safely help him overcome those barriers.
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<div>David recently received new lenses for his glasses, and we are praying that they will help reduce some of his visual difficulties and dizziness so that he can continue making progress toward our goal of seeing him walk again.
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<div>We recently had a wonderful day together doing some of the ordinary things we did before his strokes. We had dinner and went to a concert, and seeing David enjoying himself and having such a good time made my heart incredibly happy. After everything we have been through, those seemingly ordinary moments mean more than I can put into words.
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<div>Our circumstances have changed financially as well. David now receives disability, and I have returned to work while continuing to be his caregiver and coordinate his medical care, therapy, transportation, and daily needs. Even with those improvements, the financial impact of a life-changing medical event does not disappear. We continue to face expenses associated with David’s care, transportation, medical needs, our household, and the many costs that come with a long-term recovery.
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<div>We are incredibly grateful for every person who has prayed for us, donated, shared David’s story, encouraged us, or simply followed his journey. Your support has helped carry us through these last two years.
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<div>Most of all, we are asking you to come into agreement with us in prayer for David’s continued healing. We are praying that his new lenses help lessen the dizziness, that his balance continues to improve, that his body continues getting stronger, and that he keeps making forward strides toward walking again.
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<div>We are also praying for financial stability as we continue this journey. We don’t know exactly what the next chapter will look like, but we continue to have faith and take things one day, one appointment, one therapy session, and sometimes one step at a time.
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<div>If you feel led to donate, we are deeply grateful. If you cannot donate, sharing David’s story and praying with us means just as much.
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<div>Every donation, every share, every prayer, and every word of encouragement reminds us that we are not walking this journey alone.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for continuing to stand with David and me.
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<div>We have already witnessed a miracle. Now we are praying—and working—for the next one: seeing David walk again. ❤️
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Catherine Larose

Anonymous

Michael Mills

Lorie Ashwood

Kathie Whatley

Roger Jones

Jennifer Moore

Roy Gonzales

David Houk

Abby Dodson

Morgan Wymer

Barbara A Klucsar

David’s Story — Two Years Later

David’s Story — Two Years Later

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