Tim Cassidy's Brain Surgery Recovery
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Thank you for helping Tim regain his strength and independence.
On Friday, January 8, 2021, my 61-year-old husband, Timothy Cassidy, suffered a brain bleed from a rare, congenital birth defect, known as an ‘arteriovenous malformation’ or AVM. An AVM, which occurs in less than one percent of the population, is basically a tangle of abnormal blood vessels in the brain, most often without symptoms, causing a brain bleed if it bursts.
For days, brain specialists worked to stop the bleeding. In the end, Tim endured two cerebral angiograms and a craniotomy, where a portion of the skull was removed to access the brain. He spent two weeks in ICU and was transferred to acute inpatient rehabilitation on January 22, 2021, where he remained hospitalized until he was discharged on February 12, 2021.
Tim has lost the right peripheral vision in both eyes and continues to experience cognitive impairment requiring 24/7 care and supervision. Physical therapists are helping him with walking, speaking and cognitive developments. Unfortunately, even with good insurance coverage, the cost of his medical care is overwhelming - and with no end in sight.
The immediate loss of his income has, and will continue to be, a considerable hardship. We anticipate significant out-of-pocket expenses related to Tim’s hospitalization, as well as future expenses related to his on-going therapy, medical needs, and inability to work.
His doctors stated that they do not believe Tim will ever be able to return to his profession as an auto body repair technician, a career that he has held for the last 42 years. I have applied for disability benefits on Tim’s behalf. If these benefits are approved for him, they will not begin until July of this year.
Thank you for your consideration in contributing towards Tim’s rehabilitation; any level of contribution will be deeply appreciated. Our hope and prayers are that we can sustain the financial burden for at least the next year -- until we are able to build a new life based on our new normal.
Claudia Cassidy
On Friday, January 8, 2021, my 61-year-old husband, Timothy Cassidy, suffered a brain bleed from a rare, congenital birth defect, known as an ‘arteriovenous malformation’ or AVM. An AVM, which occurs in less than one percent of the population, is basically a tangle of abnormal blood vessels in the brain, most often without symptoms, causing a brain bleed if it bursts.
For days, brain specialists worked to stop the bleeding. In the end, Tim endured two cerebral angiograms and a craniotomy, where a portion of the skull was removed to access the brain. He spent two weeks in ICU and was transferred to acute inpatient rehabilitation on January 22, 2021, where he remained hospitalized until he was discharged on February 12, 2021.
Tim has lost the right peripheral vision in both eyes and continues to experience cognitive impairment requiring 24/7 care and supervision. Physical therapists are helping him with walking, speaking and cognitive developments. Unfortunately, even with good insurance coverage, the cost of his medical care is overwhelming - and with no end in sight.
The immediate loss of his income has, and will continue to be, a considerable hardship. We anticipate significant out-of-pocket expenses related to Tim’s hospitalization, as well as future expenses related to his on-going therapy, medical needs, and inability to work.
His doctors stated that they do not believe Tim will ever be able to return to his profession as an auto body repair technician, a career that he has held for the last 42 years. I have applied for disability benefits on Tim’s behalf. If these benefits are approved for him, they will not begin until July of this year.
Thank you for your consideration in contributing towards Tim’s rehabilitation; any level of contribution will be deeply appreciated. Our hope and prayers are that we can sustain the financial burden for at least the next year -- until we are able to build a new life based on our new normal.
Claudia Cassidy
Organizer
Claudia (Kurz) Cassidy
Organizer
Downers Grove, IL