Witek Gazda, our dear dad's road to brain recovery

(Polish version below - wersja polska poniżej)

On October 13th our whole lives crumbled as our beloved Witek Gazda suffered an accident while on a business trip in Texas. All we know is that traffic stopped suddenly, and he tried to save himself by landing on his side but the impact was so strong that he hit his head and had to be immediately airlifted to the nearest trauma center, where aggressive brain surgery was performed. If you know Witek you know he is a friend and brother to many, a kind soul to all, and the most incredible dad anyone could ask for to Victoria, his daughter, and Karolina, his stepdaughter. Everyone he ever talked to could see his good heart sparkle through his eyes and was instantly at peace when with him.

We flew to Texas the day we found out and the news we heard was the most devastating thing we've ever heard: his brain is so damaged, and if he survives, he will never be the same. After the initial shock, we knew Witek would want to keep fighting, especially for Victoria who is only 13. He is her whole world - a loving father, tennis and mental coach,  travel buddy, and best friend.  We believe with all of our hearts that with proper rehabilitation and being around his family and friends, he can recover. This rehabilitation needs to be early and aggressive and designed especially for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. 

We are not giving up. Witek was in a coma and a few weeks ago he finally opened his eyes. His consciousness is not regained, we don’t know when that will be, but he needs  this early aggressive brain rehabilitation in order for this to happen. We know he can hear us, especially Victoria. When he hears us, he opens his eyes, tears fall down his cheek, he makes faces. We know he is there and he has been very brave, even after multiple surgeries, including most recently another brain surgery to place his bone flaps back in. 

This is why we are reaching out to you.  This all happened so suddenly and we need all the help we can get to bring Witek back home to New Jersey to a TBI Rehabilitation Center, so he can be with his daughters, family, and friends. We are experiencing difficulties with health insurance, as they do not currently want to cover his care in rehab, which costs about 5,000 a day, or roughly 150,000 a month. However in order to see any improvement in Witek’s condition rehabilitation is required, there’s no other option. We can not afford this money, but Witek needs rehabilitation as soon as possible. We are working hard with lawyers to appeal the insurance decision. Any amount of money can help us greatly and will be dedicated for his care. We love him so much and are not giving up on him. May God bless everyone for your help. Please keep him in your prayers.

Wersja polska: 13-tego października nasz ukochany Witek Gazda miał wypadek w trakcie delegacji w Teksasie. Jeśli znacie Witka to wiecie, że jest bratnią i ciepłą duszą i najlepszym ojcem pod słońcem dla Victorii i Karoliny. Polecieliśmy do Teksasu, gdzie usłyszeliśmy okropne wieści: Witek ma bardzo poważne uszkodzenie mózgu i jeśli przeżyje, nigdy nie będzie tym samym człowiekiem. Nie było innego wyjścia - postanowiliśmy zawalczyć o Witka bo wiemy, że by sam chciał walczyć i zrobić wszystko dla Victorii, która ma jedynie 13 lat. Witek jest jej całym życiem, kochanym ojcem, trenerem do tenisa, psychologiem i najlepszym przyjacielem. 

Witek był w śpiączce, ale pare tygodni temu w końcu otworzył oczy. Nie jest jeszcze świadomy ale okazuje znaki, że nas słyszy: otwiera oczy, puszcza łzy, pokazuje grymasy na twarzy. Szczególnie reaguje na Victorie. Dzielnie przetrwał pare operacji, w tym operację mózgu by włożyć część kości czaszki spowrotem do głowy. Witek potrzebuje natychmiastowej agresywnej rehabilitacji bez której nie ma szans na powrót do przytomności. 

Zwracamy się do Was, gdyż opieka i rehabilitacja Witka będzie kosztować bardzo dużo pieniędzy, a ubezpieczenie niestety sprawia bardzo dużo problemów z opłatą. Rehabilitacja kosztuje 5000 dolarów na dzień, 150000 na miesiąc. Będziemy walczyć z ubezpieczeniem o pokrycie ale w między czasie potrzebujemy wsparcia pieniężnego. Każdy grosz i każda modlitwa nam pomoże. Błagamy o pomoc dla Witka i szczególnie dla Victorii, która potrzebuje swojego ukochanego tatę.