Hi! My name is Eugene Caouette, but I go by GENE

I have been married to my wife, Janet, for 22 years as of November 4th and celebrated by camping at Lake Ray Roberts with our little dog, Roscoe. We toasted marshmallows on a campfire, watched the deer and listened to old George Strait songs.

I have a 42 year old son, Charles, who lives in Tulsa with his wife Amanda and our granddaughter, Braedyn who is 10.

I have a 40 year old daughter, Robyn, who lives in Corinth with her husband, Tony, and our grandkids, Jackson,13, and Brooklyn, 9.

I am a recovering alcoholic, since March 2018. I enjoy my AA buddies and Janet’s Al-Anon friends. I found God, and was involved in our church, St. Philip Catholic Church in Lewisville. I read the bible every morning, pray and meditate with God.

I was in the Air Force for four years and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. I was a crew chief for B-52s and KC-97s. I love airplanes and know a lot about them.

I love talking to people everywhere I go. I love all music and I have always loved doing stuff; traveling, parades, going out to eat at restaurants, sporting events. I am happy being busy doing something. I am a fun-loving person that enjoyed kidding around… a lot. I’m a huge helper to anyone that needs it and have a heart as big as Texas.

On November 9th around 7:45pm, I felt pains in my chest which progressed to extreme pains in my back. Janet called 911 and I was taken to Denton Medical City by 8pm. After an MRI, it was discovered that I had a dissected aorta and was care flighted to Dallas Heart & Spine Hospital. I was on the operating table at 10 pm. After an intense 6 hour surgery, the doctor advised Janet and Robyn that two arteries to the brain were ruptured and I may have had several major strokes.

I was heavily sedated in ICU after surgery. I had blood on the side of my lung and another surgery was performed to drain the blood. I had a CT scan that confirmed massive strokes, as well as an MRI and an EEG. I remained sedated for several days and did not open my eyes or talk. A trach was put in on November 21st to allow me to breathe more comfortably.

I was transported to Horizon Medical Center in Denton (LTAC) on November 24th, and was starting to improve; talking and opening my eyes.  I was then transported to Select Rehabilitation Denton on December 24th, where I really started improving with all my therapists.  I was then moved to Las Brisas on January 15th to remove the trach, but they were unable to because scar tissue had attached to the device.  I was transported to Accel Rehabilitation Hospital on February 5th, they were also not able to remove my trach.  It was finally removed at the ER of the Dallas Heart & Spine Hospital on February 22nd. I was moved to Corinth Rehabilitation on February 23rd, where I am currently.

The day “my event” happen, I was working all day preparing to put Christmas lights on the house the next day.

I am now bedbound.
I no longer have use of the right side of my body at all and experience extreme pain when being touched on the right.
I am also now completely blind in both eyes. I don’t respond well when people come in and don’t tell me what they are doing because my other senses haven’t developed to make up for my sight yet.
I can respond to yes and no questions, but my speech is still very affected by the stroke when I try to say more.
I am on so many prescriptions it’s hard for my family to keep up.
I get all my nutrition from a feeding peg inserted into my stomach.

In 4 months and 1 week, I have been transferred to 8 different facilities. I have stayed at 6 of those for a week or more, where I’ve had to “learn” 6 different teams of medical staffers. All while dealing with the new issues and ailments listed above. During that time, I have been quarantined for 28 days and had limited contact with family all due to COVID-19.

I am also being discharged by Medicare because I’m not making "enough progress”. My coverage ended March 18th.

I’m obviously not the one writing this. We (Gene’s family) are asking for any help that can be afforded by you; our extended family, friends and colleagues. When we first met with the surgeon after his heart surgery, we were warned that if there were strokes, this would be months to years recovery. Gene needs to be at a facility with regular PT, OT, ST, so he can make the progress to come home when HE is ready.

The financial burden that this will be putting on their household is too great. Janet retired 2 years ago and Gene was still working when this happened. We have acquired an attorney to help us safely fight for Medicaid coverage, but that will not take effect until May. We are looking for help to private pay for his care for the rest of March and April totaling $11,000.

Thank you for helping us in any way you can (that includes your continued prayers, thoughts and sweet messages). We pray every day for Gene’s progress and health, but also strength for Janet. May God bless you.