Support The Cacciatore Family After a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm

On June 14th, my dad, Fabrizio, suffered a sudden ruptured brain aneurysm that caused a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage and multicompartmental hemorrhage (a life-threatening bleed involving multiple areas of the brain). This also led to acute hydrocephalus, multiple seizures, and other life-threatening complications.

I, his daughter Giulia, called 911, and he was rushed to the hospital where they performed emergency procedures to save his life. Before operating, they told us that he has about a 50/50 chance of survival, and that if he does survive all this, a full recovery is uncertain. Every day since has felt like a gift that can be taken away from us at any second. While my family and I are incredibly grateful that he survived the initial phase, his journey is far from over.

Since June 14th, he has remained in the neurological intensive care unit and has faced severe complications, including cerebral vasospasm, a dangerous condition that he is at high risk for over multiple weeks, which can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. We were told that he will be in the ICU for at least three weeks. His medical team continues to monitor him closely and has already performed multiple procedures to help restore blood flow and prevent further injury. He has had a drain placed in his brain as well as two separate angiograms. As of June 21st, he is intubated for the second time after his second angiogram, which was done to treat severe vasospasm. He is currently intubated and fully awake without sedation, which is extremely uncomfortable and distressing for him, but they need him awake to do frequent neurological exams. As of today, he is unable to move his right leg and can barely raise his right arm. They keep saying that he is more complex than most patients with a ruptured brain aneurysm, due to the extent and distribution of bleeding across multiple areas of his brain, with a significant amount of bleeding.

At this point, his recovery remains uncertain. We are taking things one day at a time and holding onto hope while he continues to fight so hard through the constant changes to his condition. It feels like a roller coaster that we can’t get off of. One minute we’re optimistic, and the next minute everything becomes chaos all over again.

Anyone who knows my dad knows how fiercely he loves his family and how hard he works for us. He has always been there for me through all of my hospital admissions and health problems, and now it’s my turn to be there for him. Anyone who knows him knows that he says our door is always open, and will drop anything to help a loved one in need. Now, our family is asking for help on his behalf, even though he probably wouldn’t want to ask for it himself. But I love him too much to care about that right now.

In addition to going through the scariest time of our lives, this will also begin to cause significant financial strain. Fabrizio is self-employed and is unable to work for at least a few months. He has very limited health insurance coverage due to being self-employed, which as you can imagine, does not go well with spending weeks—if not months—in the ICU. My mom, Micheline, has had to stop working so she can spend every moment by his side, supporting him and making all medical decisions on his behalf. My brother Luca and I have also spent almost every second by his side, while also taking care of the house and our 3 dogs, one of which has severely injured his leg while this has all been occurring. My 17 year old brother, Luca, cannot work during this crisis and I, Giulia, cannot work as I am disabled and unable to contribute financially, and am fully reliant on my surgical feeding tube.

Donations will help with medical expenses, lost income, a rehabilitation facility, potential mobility aids and home modifications, and the many unexpected expenses that come with a prolonged ICU stay and continuing to recover afterwards at a rehabilitation center.

If you are able to donate, no amount is too small. Anything helps. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser with others would mean so much to my family.

Thank you for your kindness, support, positive vibes, thoughts, prayers, and encouragement during this time. We are so grateful for the community that surrounds us during the most difficult thing we have ever faced. Please hold onto hope for us.

With immense gratitude,

Giulia, Luca, Micheline, and Fabrizio