Tom’s Story

Tom is the dad of Tyler, Alyssa, and Autumn, and the husband of Jackie. He is currently in the ICU in California after a sudden and terrifying medical emergency. On 9/13/2026, Tom was on a hiking and camping trip with a friend when he collapsed in a remote area and had to be airlifted by helicopter to the nearest hospital. In the days that followed, his condition became even more serious. He was placed on a ventilator and fully sedated. After several long days of fear and uncertainty, doctors were finally able to diagnose Tom with meningitis caused by West Nile virus. While his family is grateful to have answers, there is still so much unknown about what his recovery will look like, and they are still waiting to understand what the long-term effects will be.

Tom’s loved ones are all based in Wisconsin, so being by his side in California has brought significant travel and stay expenses as family members rotate in and out so someone can be with him during his hospitalization. There is a strong likelihood that Tom will remain in California for the next few weeks before returning to Wisconsin is even possible. Donations will also help with the growing medical expenses related to Tom’s hospital stay and ongoing care. Any donation, prayer, or share would mean so much to Tom’s family as they support him through this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness will help ease the financial burden so the family can focus on what matters most right now: making sure Tom is not alone and facing the uncertainty ahead together.