Steve was diagnosed in 2013 with Ataxia (an incurable disease) after suffering a TIA stroke. His life since then has been an uphill battle with more bad days than good days. As of today, he has been in the hospital for 30 days with emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and multi-focal pneumonia. He is fighting and slowly getting better, but our insurance is not working with the hospital. Today is the last day he has been pre-approved with insurance to be an in-patient in the hospital. The hospital is trying to get re-approved through insurance to send him to their occupational therapy center to hopefully get him home in a couple of weeks, but we're looking at a long road ahead. When he asked them why they wanted him in occupational therapy when he has no occupation, they told him, "Your occupation is to live."

Steve has a 6-week-old granddaughter that he’s only been able to see twice since being in the hospital, and we want to make sure he’ll be able to watch her grow up.

Now his life will be changing (again), probably forever. We will be having to get him an electric scooter because his legs can only barely hold him up & his oxygen drops dangerously low when he so much as stands up for a minute, additional meds will be needed on top of his already multiple daily meds, and heated high-flow oxygen to keep his oxygen up so he can get up to get in & out of his scooter, bed, vehicles, etc...as well as in-home and portable oxygen to keep him alive.

Donations will go to medical bills and medical equipment.

We’re so grateful for any support you can give—whether it’s a donation, a share, or just keeping Steve in your thoughts and/or prayers. Every bit of help brings us closer to getting him home and on the road to the rest of his life. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us during this difficult time.

UPDATE (04/10/2026):

Today they told Steve that insurance will not approve him to go to the occupational therapy floor in this hospital or to even stay in his room that he's been in at the hospital. He knows his routine here. He likes his nurses & doctors. They did, however, approve for him to be transferred to another (cheaper) hospital that is further away with fewer staff to care for him to be in a "swing bed" (Google can explain). They can't tell us how long he'll be there. If he could've stayed at this hospital & gone to their occupational therapy wing for no more than a couple of weeks. I hope I am wrong,but I feel like, with less staff, he'll get less time in therapy. I AM LIVID! HE IS LIVID! We are completely in the dark (again) & feel like we're starting all over (again). I guess we kind of are.

UPDATE (4/12/26)

We got Steve settled in at the new hospital yesterday. There are more cons here than pros, but here's what we know so far about swing bed patient rooms...

Cons:

*He is still confined to his bed as a fall risk because his O2 drops when he gets out of bed to do anything.

*He is only going to be doing 1 hour of PT & 1 hour of OT, 5 days/week.

*He is scheduled to be here another 20 days (19 days as of today).

*The nurses here are capable, but not allowed to do anything but administer medication, take his vitals, make sure his cannula stays in overnight, & bring him ice &/or water...no IV's or anything "serious".

*He will only see his 1 doctor, 1 day/week resulting in fewer updates.

*I'm guessing, unless his doctor notices a dramatic change, he will not be getting any x-rays, CT scans, or anything of the sort so we won't be able to "see" if there are any changes to his lungs.

*After last night, I can attest that I will not be able to spend the night if I want to. They will not provide a cot & I cannot sleep in this chair. I may try to bring my own cot next weekend & try again. ‍♀️

Pros:

*I can sign him out & they will provide O2 for him to actually leave so he'll be able to go outside & go home (wheelchair assisted so he doesn't strain his lungs with activity) for as long as the O2 they give him will last.

*He can walk the halls when someone is available to walk with him.

*The food here is better.

We still have a very long road ahead of us. They keep saying they want to get him off the O2 & as much positive thinking as that is, Steve & I both doubt that will ever happen for him. I'm still praying for that miracle though.