Raul Plaza: Recovery from Stroke
Donation protected
This page is for my friend Raul Plaza, 58, single, whom I have known for 25 years. He's one of the most honest, kind and caring people I could ever know. Before the stroke, Raul used to ride his bike, sometimes 100 plus miles, to get out to Long Island, NY from NJ, where he could meet up with the naturalists and marine biologists working on weekend Viking Fleet voyages. (Raul's uncle is an Olympian cyclist who taught Raul to ride.)
Raul volunteered as crew for CRESLI (Coastal Research and Educational Society of Long Island, cresli.org) marine animal census done at sea. Raul was crew and lookout for animals in the water spotting animals by their tail and body markings, which enabled biologists to identify, track and count them. The animals' numbers, activities and locations are important information to understand what their species' needs will be for continued survival in the ocean. Raul believes in the importance of marine life and a clean ocean, and has put in years of his time and effort to help biologists and naturalists at CRESLI. They depend on him. He was crew on Hudson River environmental assessment voyages too. I've learned about the ocean and its animals from him.
During the week for the past 20 years, Raul's daytime job was in-house Copy Center clerk for a law office. While he was working, he earned an online Associate degree from Northwest University, Kirkland, WA.
Recently, Raul has not been able to participate in marine animal census voyages, ride his bike, or work. On August 1, 2019, Raul was at work, talking with his supervisor, when suddenly he could not talk! The supervisor called an ambulance and Raul was taken to Mt. Sinai West in Manhattan. The emergency room doctors found Raul had a mini-stroke. He was admitted. Sometime during the night or early morning, Raul had a second stroke. How lucky he was to have had it happen while in the hospital because he got medical attention immediately. The second stroke required surgery: a thrombectomy and stents, involving the carotid artery. The right side of his body was paralyzed, he could not walk or use his dominant hand, and his speech was affected.
As if the stroke wasn't enough bad luck, in the last 4 years Raul has suffered through other major bad luck. In winter 2015, while at work, he got a phone call from the local police informing him the multi-family 3-story walk up building where he had an apartment, along with the building next to it, had burned completely, leaving him only with the clothes he had worn to work that day. The town of Bayonne, NJ government helped him find another apartment, and friends and family helped him set up a new apartment starting from scratch, all over again.
As if the stroke and fire weren't enough bad luck, in 2018, without advance notice, Raul was let go by his employer of 20 years. It was one of those situations where the "old timers" are discarded when new management takes over. Raul was unemployed for a year, and had to use up all his savings to pay living expenses. He's not afraid of hard work: he got temporary work at a nearly college book store, walked dogs and installed and maintained fish tanks.
At least he had some good luck since he was employed 3 months when he had the stroke. He was covered by health insurance from his first day at the job. The people at the new job have been wonderful and supportive, visiting him in the hospital.
Raul was hospitalized in Neuro Intensive Care at Mt. Sinai West from August 1 until around September 12, when he was moved to the New York Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Astoria, Queens, New York for longer term care.
Although Raul has medical insurance, he will still need money. If he gets short-term disability, it will help but fall short of what he'll need. His must pay rent at $900.00 a month, plus utilities until he is ready to return home. Other expenses including $150.00 per ride to Mt. Sinai West for follow-up care.
On behalf of Raul, myself and his family, any type of support and encouragement would be appreciated while Raul works on his recovery. Donations, of any amount, are welcome and gratefully received. If you want to send words of support, or some other type of support, it would be gratefully received as well. This gofundme page is guaranteed.
Raul volunteered as crew for CRESLI (Coastal Research and Educational Society of Long Island, cresli.org) marine animal census done at sea. Raul was crew and lookout for animals in the water spotting animals by their tail and body markings, which enabled biologists to identify, track and count them. The animals' numbers, activities and locations are important information to understand what their species' needs will be for continued survival in the ocean. Raul believes in the importance of marine life and a clean ocean, and has put in years of his time and effort to help biologists and naturalists at CRESLI. They depend on him. He was crew on Hudson River environmental assessment voyages too. I've learned about the ocean and its animals from him.
During the week for the past 20 years, Raul's daytime job was in-house Copy Center clerk for a law office. While he was working, he earned an online Associate degree from Northwest University, Kirkland, WA.
Recently, Raul has not been able to participate in marine animal census voyages, ride his bike, or work. On August 1, 2019, Raul was at work, talking with his supervisor, when suddenly he could not talk! The supervisor called an ambulance and Raul was taken to Mt. Sinai West in Manhattan. The emergency room doctors found Raul had a mini-stroke. He was admitted. Sometime during the night or early morning, Raul had a second stroke. How lucky he was to have had it happen while in the hospital because he got medical attention immediately. The second stroke required surgery: a thrombectomy and stents, involving the carotid artery. The right side of his body was paralyzed, he could not walk or use his dominant hand, and his speech was affected.
As if the stroke wasn't enough bad luck, in the last 4 years Raul has suffered through other major bad luck. In winter 2015, while at work, he got a phone call from the local police informing him the multi-family 3-story walk up building where he had an apartment, along with the building next to it, had burned completely, leaving him only with the clothes he had worn to work that day. The town of Bayonne, NJ government helped him find another apartment, and friends and family helped him set up a new apartment starting from scratch, all over again.
As if the stroke and fire weren't enough bad luck, in 2018, without advance notice, Raul was let go by his employer of 20 years. It was one of those situations where the "old timers" are discarded when new management takes over. Raul was unemployed for a year, and had to use up all his savings to pay living expenses. He's not afraid of hard work: he got temporary work at a nearly college book store, walked dogs and installed and maintained fish tanks.
At least he had some good luck since he was employed 3 months when he had the stroke. He was covered by health insurance from his first day at the job. The people at the new job have been wonderful and supportive, visiting him in the hospital.
Raul was hospitalized in Neuro Intensive Care at Mt. Sinai West from August 1 until around September 12, when he was moved to the New York Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Astoria, Queens, New York for longer term care.
Although Raul has medical insurance, he will still need money. If he gets short-term disability, it will help but fall short of what he'll need. His must pay rent at $900.00 a month, plus utilities until he is ready to return home. Other expenses including $150.00 per ride to Mt. Sinai West for follow-up care.
On behalf of Raul, myself and his family, any type of support and encouragement would be appreciated while Raul works on his recovery. Donations, of any amount, are welcome and gratefully received. If you want to send words of support, or some other type of support, it would be gratefully received as well. This gofundme page is guaranteed.
Organizer
Joan Engel
Organizer
Boston, MA
