Support Pete's Journey to Walk Again

I am looking to raise money for my friend so that Pete can walk his daughter down the aisle. A lot of you that know me will know Pete. You might not know his story. He is a former first responder and one of the best dads and husbands that I know. Below is his plight. I am trying to help the family raise money for an orthopedic and a sleep number bed. Please help my, our dear friend Pete.

Officer Peter Bazos was a first responder and probation officer for over 25 years serving the Fort Lauderdale area and Broward County. In August of 2021, he became very ill and was hospitalized with COVID-19, followed by a stroke. Officer Bazos was featured on Local 10 News:

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/08/17/family-of-corrections-officer-battling-covid-19-in-icu-trying-too-stay-positive/.

He also had a feature story in Coral Springs Talk:

https://coralspringstalk.com/family-to-hold-fundraiser-for-paralyzed-first-responder-from-coral-springs-41520

Officer Bazos is the proud father of twin daughters, Susanne and Nicole, whom he affectionately calls Baby A and Baby B, and the loves of his life. Throughout his career, Officer Bazos maintained a high level of physical fitness and was dedicated to health. However, he faced significant health challenges, including contracting COVID-19, suffering a stroke, and undergoing two craniotomies during the pandemic. He spent several months in a coma and required a feeding tube.

Currently, Officer Bazos is on the path to recovery and has partnered with The Freedom to Walk Foundation. This partnership will support him in raising money for the orthotics to help walk his daughter down the aisle in August 2025, as well as spending time at the gym with his girls, traveling with his family, and reclaiming his life. During his recovery, his family diligently searched for solutions to assist him in regaining his ability to walk, with much prayer for him to play sports again and go fishing.

Bazos played college football (#44) for Florida State University in 1983 and attended Saint Thomas Aquinas High School from 1979-1982, where he excelled as a fullback in football and wrestling. He was an accomplished football player, basketball player, fisherman, and softball player. Later on, in his 40s and 50s, Peter trained to run Disney marathons and others, and his gun time and chip times were impeccable. His inability to walk has been devastating for his life. In a desperate effort to aid him, his family discovered orthotic devices that could restore his ability to walk and provide him with greater mobility.

The Freedom to Walk Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, invites donations to support Peter’s fundraiser. The foundation helps acquire electrical mobility devices for children and adults experiencing Foot Drop caused by conditions such as Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, and Traumatic Brain Injury, allowing them to walk safely and live fulfilling lives.

The Bazos family has a nickname for Peter; they call him “Positive Pete” to keep him fighting every day. The Bazos family discovered these electrical orthotics by Bioness L300 Go device is FDA-approved but not covered by most insurance companies, costing $5,500 out-of-pocket. This electronic device sends electric impulses to the affected foot, enabling a natural gait. Bazos requires three devices: two for his leg and one for his arm. The goal is to raise the money to get the orthotics and then to raise money for his physical therapy. The cost to the family for Bazos' care is hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep Bazos comfortable. The Bazos family is eager for him to get on his feet and walk so he can reclaim his health and longevity. This is a story for champions and heroes that fight to keep their family and their life going for that happily ever after!