The Family of Pete Valania

On August 6 (Sunday night), Pete was getting ready for bed and suddenly became very disoriented and, out of nowhere, collapsed. Thankfully his wife, Tracy, was right there. She was able to call 911 quickly, and he was rushed to the nearby hospital. After getting to the hospital, doctors quickly determined that he was having an issue with his brain. He was immediately taken to the operating room. Once they opened his skull, the bleeding was so extensive they could not operate, so he was moved to the ICU. He was intubated and put on a ventilator. He was unconscious; part of his skull was removed to relieve the pressure on his brain, and a tube was placed in his head to drain the blood from his head. He was diagnosed with a massive brain hemorrhage which caused extensive damage to the entire right side of his body.

That was over four weeks ago. Unfortunately, Pete is still in the ICU and has not made significant strides. He is no longer intubated but has a tracheostomy. Pete continues to require a ventilator to breathe. He still cannot move his right side and has not been able to speak. He opens his eyes occasionally and will look directly at people, but no one is sure if he knows who they are or where he is. Besides an occasional smile, he has not attempted to communicate. Throughout this entire process, he has had his family and friends sitting by his bedside, waiting for that moment when he shows some glimmer of the old Pete. He has suffered multiple setbacks over the last four weeks, but his will to survive is strong, and he keeps battling through it. For those who know Pete, this comes as no surprise.

His wife (Tracy), three sons (Erich, Ryan, and Zachary) and parents (Pete and Dolores) have all been praying for a full recovery, but, as time moves along, this is become less likely by the day. He and his family have had incredible support from countless family and friends. They have had tons of visitors, and multiple meals have been provided. This has all been received with tremendous gratitude and appreciation. The biggest concern and focus remain on Pete’s health and recovery, but all this comes at an insurmountable financial burden. The costs of his current care continue to escalate, and the costs of his future long-term care can’t even be imagined now. So many of our lives have been touched by Pete and his family. We are asking all of you to help make a difference in their lives right now by helping support them in this time of financial need. Any donation will be greatly appreciated.