Our Lives Changed in a Second!
Donation protected
On May 9th, 2015, at 4:15 a.m. my husband Gary woke up, went to get out of bed, and realized he couldn’t move. His younger brother, Steven, found him helpless on the floor of his bedroom, unable to move or speak.
I was two hours away at the Jersey shore with my five sisters and a couple of nieces, on our annual beach trip, when I was woken to my cell phone endlessly ringing. He found his 6’3” big brother, helpless, on the floor of the bedroom and immediately called 911.
Steven stayed with him as Gary was rushed to Suburban Mercy Hospital only to find out they did not have a stroke unit, so they then rushed him to Jefferson Hospital, Neuroscience Stroke Unit in Philadelphia.
The result - Gary had a stroke on the left side of his brain; causing paralysis on his entire right side of his body and impacted his ability to speak. For an independent, strong minded and physical man, it totally rocked his world.
Which it would for anyone. But there’s more. Gary has been a bass player for over 30 years and is an #IATSE 8 Local Union Member. The thought of never playing his bass again, has been unimaginable – and not only for him, but for me, his wife and best friend of 35 years.
We met as a result of his bass playing and my singing….we came together as friends, band mates and eventually married, sharing our love for music, performing and theatre. Gary is a professional audio engineer and stage hand for the Walnut Street Theatre and some of the finest theaters and music venues in Center City and surrounding tri-state area of Philadelphia. We have 3 wonderful dogs, Paco, Sasha and Winston.
Our life and hearts have been full… and though we have had our ups and downs like anyone, this setback is testing every ounce of our love, faith, and will. And though Gary has kept his sense of humor, and I am prepared for the challenge, we do need help – which is never easy to admit. But if Gary and I are going to be fully focused on his rehabilitation and recovery, we have to. Gary will not be going back to work any time soon, and I will have to take much more unpaid time off, in order to take care of him throughout this journey.
So, this campaign is to raise funds to cover out of pockets medical bills, home health aids, and most importantly, to prevent us from losing our health insurance.
Gary has already started his many months of physical therapy to regain the use of his leg, arm, hand and face. We both know that it will be a long recovery, but we are both determined to do what is necessary to get him back playing his bass, returning to the Walnut Street Theatre, and being the funny, loving, and giving man he has always been.
We thank you so much in advance for your support and contribution to our Strength Fund…. as it will provide both Gary and I strength, hope and determination toward a full recovery and life. Please share this message with your friends, family and coworkers, or anyone who can relate to our struggle.
I was two hours away at the Jersey shore with my five sisters and a couple of nieces, on our annual beach trip, when I was woken to my cell phone endlessly ringing. He found his 6’3” big brother, helpless, on the floor of the bedroom and immediately called 911.
Steven stayed with him as Gary was rushed to Suburban Mercy Hospital only to find out they did not have a stroke unit, so they then rushed him to Jefferson Hospital, Neuroscience Stroke Unit in Philadelphia.
The result - Gary had a stroke on the left side of his brain; causing paralysis on his entire right side of his body and impacted his ability to speak. For an independent, strong minded and physical man, it totally rocked his world.
Which it would for anyone. But there’s more. Gary has been a bass player for over 30 years and is an #IATSE 8 Local Union Member. The thought of never playing his bass again, has been unimaginable – and not only for him, but for me, his wife and best friend of 35 years.
We met as a result of his bass playing and my singing….we came together as friends, band mates and eventually married, sharing our love for music, performing and theatre. Gary is a professional audio engineer and stage hand for the Walnut Street Theatre and some of the finest theaters and music venues in Center City and surrounding tri-state area of Philadelphia. We have 3 wonderful dogs, Paco, Sasha and Winston.
Our life and hearts have been full… and though we have had our ups and downs like anyone, this setback is testing every ounce of our love, faith, and will. And though Gary has kept his sense of humor, and I am prepared for the challenge, we do need help – which is never easy to admit. But if Gary and I are going to be fully focused on his rehabilitation and recovery, we have to. Gary will not be going back to work any time soon, and I will have to take much more unpaid time off, in order to take care of him throughout this journey.
So, this campaign is to raise funds to cover out of pockets medical bills, home health aids, and most importantly, to prevent us from losing our health insurance.
Gary has already started his many months of physical therapy to regain the use of his leg, arm, hand and face. We both know that it will be a long recovery, but we are both determined to do what is necessary to get him back playing his bass, returning to the Walnut Street Theatre, and being the funny, loving, and giving man he has always been.
We thank you so much in advance for your support and contribution to our Strength Fund…. as it will provide both Gary and I strength, hope and determination toward a full recovery and life. Please share this message with your friends, family and coworkers, or anyone who can relate to our struggle.
Organizer
Peg Boas
Organizer
King of Prussia, PA