Support Than's Road to Recovery

For those who do not know, our friend, family man, colleague, and wry “observer in chief” Than Saffel suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while working from their home on February 11th. Fortunately, a roofer, Beto, witnessed the arrest, and ran to get Susan from her Dad’s house on the same property. When Susan got to him, Than was purple and not breathing. Thanks to quick actions from many heroes, including their son Eli and Beto, who began chest compressions, the Brookhaven VFD (who pronounced him dead), and an amazing EMS team, Than was revived, but his chances were bleak, having been without a pulse for at least twelve minutes. He spent a day “on ice” – his body temp lowered to give his brain a chance to reboot – and on February 13, he slowly began to awaken; a nerve-wracking time for everyone.

After a two-week hospitalization, including several days in the Cardiovascular ICU, Than is miraculously back home. His healing progresses each day, but recovering from anoxic brain injury is a marathon – not a sprint. Many months of physical and cognitive therapy and other appointments lay ahead before Than is cleared to return to work fulltime, and to resume all activities of daily living (the doctors estimate that driving, for instance, will not be allowed for six months). To help with daily tasks and transportation to multiple weekly appointments, Susan has hired in-home help.

Our supportive local community of friends, family, and longtime colleagues have embraced the family with love, providing meals, conversation, cleaning, and home organization to help Than be safe in the family home and focus on healing. Rhowyn, Eli, and Alex have rallied around Than and have worked tirelessly to help with their dad’s every need. Yet Susan still carries a very heavy load and does so with the same determination and love with which she approaches all projects, people, and animals she cares about. The family is brimming over with gratitude at the countless ways we’ve circled the wagons and stepped up. Susan and Than have done the same for us every time a need has arisen – even for strangers.

While Than, of course, has medical insurance, the cost share for hospital stays, diagnostics, and therapies is high. At this time, contributions to offset the cost of in-home care (none of which is covered by insurance) will be tremendously helpful in alleviating some of the financial strain a medical event like this imposes, and to allow Susan to continue to work and draw income to help support the family.