Long rides, blasting music that ended up shaping my music taste. Painting his nails because he wanted to and that was ok. Carrying me into the ER after one of my many seizures. Taking me to Jacksonville beach for the day and traveling the whole trip with the top and doors off. Always having hair ties for me just in case. Giving me a blank check for my medications. Buying me a jeep because that’s what I thought I wanted and then not getting upset when I couldn’t commit. Administering my insulin first thing in the morning. Encouraging me to read the lyrics on the inside of the CD case to practice my reading skills. Giving me my first tattoo with a sharpie and then accompanying me for a real one once I was 18. Showing up for a Father’s Day celebration when I was in kindergarten because I felt like the only kid without a dad. Teaching me to defend myself, physically and mentally. Showing me how to change a tire, battery, oil, brakes, headlights, and properly use a jack. Taking me along to see Star Trek, only for me to fall asleep in the theater. My entire life is confettied with memories with him like a Mardi Gras parade. 

My uncle has always been there for me, no questions asked. When everyone deserted and everything began falling to pieces, he stepped up in the best way he knew how. Now it’s our turn to help him. On January 14, Carl suffered a brain stem stroke followed by cardiac arrest. He was life-flighted out to Savannah Memorial hospital where he was heavily sedated to protect his brain from any further damage. We waited days for him to begin to respond after they ended the sedation. He was immediately placed on a ventilator, along with an NG tube after failing a swallowing test. My mom visited as often as she could, almost every other day, traveling from Douglas to Savannah while working, going to school, and taking care of my grandmother. January 23 he tested positive for COVID. Isolation. My mom called daily to receive updates. January 26 a bronchoscopy was performed. January 27 he began opening his eyes, was able to move arms and legs on command, but develop a secondary bacterial infection due to the ventilator. February 2 a tracheostomy was performed and a feeding tube was placed. February 6 he was removed from isolation, and my mom was immediately by his side because he’ll always be her baby brother. He began running a fever and was later diagnosed with pneumonia. On February 10, his feeding tube dislodged resulting in emergency surgery to replace the tube and clean his abdomen out. The following day, a nephrologist was consulted regarding his decreased kidney function and mental status. February 13, AV fistula surgery was conducted in order to begin dialysis. He finally came off the ventilator on February 21 and begin dialysis. 

As of March 4, he still requires full-time care. He is on dialysis multiple times per week, relies on a feeding tube, and is working with a physical therapist to complete simple exercises in order to regain strength. He did not have health insurance, he was never sick. The purpose of this is to gather enough funds for him to be able to receive the full-time care he needs in a facility in Savannah. Disability has been applied for, but nobody has notified us. Savannah Memorial Hospital is ready to begin to discharge him, without a facility lined up. My mom would have no other option but to bring him home and attempt to care for him herself