Nicholas is a family friend. He is only 32 years old. He had a stroke last month and is not able to return to work. He doesn't have an exact date of when he will be able to return to work, but he is so far behind now that even when he goes back to work, he will not be able to get caught up. He is under extreme stress over his finances. I am starting this request to help him with his living expenses and his medical bills that are coming in.

Here is Nicholas's statement:

On the morning of Sunday the 9th, I was on the computer and got a friendly call from a previous coworker at 10:06. I realized what time it was and was getting up off the computer to go to bed. Everything started spinning, and I couldn't stand or walk straight, head-butted the wall a few times. I went to my roommate to drive me to the ER, as she was about to leave for work. I passed out on the stairs, was caught and didn't fall, while another roommate got the car ready. We sped down the interstate going 90. I do remember partially regaining consciousness and struggling to breathe or speak. I had a feeling it was a stroke. The driver called her work and my grandma to inform them there was an emergency.

I was wheeled into the ER and I was unconscious. I'm told, my family was told it was a stroke and to kiss me goodbye as I had a 50/50 chance of survival. Mom, who never cries, cried for the first time in years.

A clot buster was used. I had a decent-sized ischemic stroke on the right side and two small ones on the left.

I woke up, was hooked to a ventilator, and it took 3 days to be disconnected. I needed a walker to move around or use the bathroom. I was discharged just under a week later.

While I was on the ventilator, my sister, who's also having medical issues, took the task of keeping people updated and holding my phone. Too many people and groups to count. She even made the comment that she didn't realize so many people care or even depended on me. I do have a tendency to become people's emotional support buddy, including in a few autism groups. One group even stopped an activity until I got better and can rejoin them.

I was placed at an inpatient rehabilitation facility where I received physical therapy and occupational therapy. Speech was affected but not bad enough to need therapy.

After having my evaluation after being admitted, my body regressed (happens sometimes after 1 week, per doctor) and I couldn't move my left foot, leg, toes, arm, hand, fingers.

Two weeks of therapy later, I was discharged. I was able to walk but was unsteady and still a fall risk. Showering is still difficult with a "dead arm" and unsteady legs and vision.

Now, two weeks later, I am currently under family supervision at grandma's house. Outpatient therapy still hasn't started due to their scheduling, but the evaluations will be in one week. My bank is about to go negative, because even though my income stopped, that doesn't mean my bills have.

I had two jobs, but it dropped down to one job about one week before all this happened. Since 2018, I've had two jobs just to make ends meet and be able to eat. Even then, I'm still a few months behind in rent and was building up to cover it.

Now I'm down to one job, and it doesn't even cover all my bills, let alone allow me to eat. I'm also supposed to be on the Mediterranean diet, but well, I'm about to be on a no-food diet at this rate because I have no money.