Supporting the Argent Family
This GoFundMe Campaign will help support Chas and Michelle Argent as they oversee the recovery of their 12-year-old son, Nicolas, who suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on January 13, 2018. The stroke was caused by a medical condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which was previously undiagnosed and that presented no symptoms whatsoever until the stroke. Nicolas survived this life-threatening event and after spending two weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, he was thrilled to come home on January 27th to be with his family – including his 9-year-old sister, Bryn; his dog, Willow; and his cat, Poe. Nicolas continues to amaze and inspire those around him with his fighting spirit, his astounding recovery, and his ever-present smile.
However, his journey is just beginning. On January 29th, Nicolas began a comprehensive rehabilitation program at Kennedy Krieger Institute where he is receiving care from doctors, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, nurses, and neuropsychologists as he works towards transitioning back to middle school. It is currently anticipated that he will be receiving these intensive therapies for at least a few months. In the next 6 months or so, the Argents have been told that Nicolas will need to have surgery to correct the AVM condition in his brain that caused the stroke in the first place. Otherwise, it could happen again. It is not safe to do this procedure on Nicolas at this time. Further tests, treatments, and therapies will most likely follow.
To care for Nicolas, Michelle has had to take an indefinite leave of absence without pay from her new career as a special educator. She just graduated with her M.Ed. in August and as a new employee, she does not qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act. For now, the family can keep health insurance under the school’s plan, but they have to pay the full, unsubsidized premium. The vast majority of Nicolas’ medical expenses are covered, but innumerable subsidiary expenses remain in the face of the significant loss of Michelle’s salary.
The Argents are great people, and this campaign is intended to provide the many friends of the Argents with an easy way to help them out during this time of need.
Donated funds will go to help defray Argent family expenses while Nicolas recovers. There is no doubt that they will be very grateful for any help.
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However, his journey is just beginning. On January 29th, Nicolas began a comprehensive rehabilitation program at Kennedy Krieger Institute where he is receiving care from doctors, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, nurses, and neuropsychologists as he works towards transitioning back to middle school. It is currently anticipated that he will be receiving these intensive therapies for at least a few months. In the next 6 months or so, the Argents have been told that Nicolas will need to have surgery to correct the AVM condition in his brain that caused the stroke in the first place. Otherwise, it could happen again. It is not safe to do this procedure on Nicolas at this time. Further tests, treatments, and therapies will most likely follow.
To care for Nicolas, Michelle has had to take an indefinite leave of absence without pay from her new career as a special educator. She just graduated with her M.Ed. in August and as a new employee, she does not qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act. For now, the family can keep health insurance under the school’s plan, but they have to pay the full, unsubsidized premium. The vast majority of Nicolas’ medical expenses are covered, but innumerable subsidiary expenses remain in the face of the significant loss of Michelle’s salary.
The Argents are great people, and this campaign is intended to provide the many friends of the Argents with an easy way to help them out during this time of need.
Donated funds will go to help defray Argent family expenses while Nicolas recovers. There is no doubt that they will be very grateful for any help.
Update: 3/11/18
Nicolas has had quite a week and we want you to share in the good news. On March 9th, Nicolas celebrated his 13th birthday! It was a particularly special birthday for us, as there were a few times in the past couple of months when we weren’t sure if he would make it to his 13th year. So, turning 13 was definitely cause for great joy! However, as if that weren’t enough, Nicolas achieved another huge milestone on March 9th…he had his final day in the outpatient rehab program at Kennedy Krieger! After 6 weeks in the program, Nicolas became a graduate! He worked incredibly hard while he was there, and he takes great pride in the fact that he achieved his goals. Frankly, he surprised us and the therapists!
Nicolas will be testing the waters at his middle school again beginning tomorrow! He will start back to school with ½ days, and then move into full days by the end of the week, and then we’ll assess how it is going. Nicolas will continue to have ongoing follow-ups with his neurosurgeon, and eventually surgery to correct his AVM. But in the meantime, he is VERY excited to return to school, see his friends, and begin to feel like a typical 7th grader again.
Thank you all for your support! We are so pleased to share the news of this landmark as he continues on the path to recovery.
With Warm Regards,
The Argent Family
(Chas, Michelle, Nicolas, and Bryn)
Nicolas has had quite a week and we want you to share in the good news. On March 9th, Nicolas celebrated his 13th birthday! It was a particularly special birthday for us, as there were a few times in the past couple of months when we weren’t sure if he would make it to his 13th year. So, turning 13 was definitely cause for great joy! However, as if that weren’t enough, Nicolas achieved another huge milestone on March 9th…he had his final day in the outpatient rehab program at Kennedy Krieger! After 6 weeks in the program, Nicolas became a graduate! He worked incredibly hard while he was there, and he takes great pride in the fact that he achieved his goals. Frankly, he surprised us and the therapists!
Nicolas will be testing the waters at his middle school again beginning tomorrow! He will start back to school with ½ days, and then move into full days by the end of the week, and then we’ll assess how it is going. Nicolas will continue to have ongoing follow-ups with his neurosurgeon, and eventually surgery to correct his AVM. But in the meantime, he is VERY excited to return to school, see his friends, and begin to feel like a typical 7th grader again.
Thank you all for your support! We are so pleased to share the news of this landmark as he continues on the path to recovery.
With Warm Regards,
The Argent Family
(Chas, Michelle, Nicolas, and Bryn)
Done with STP!
Nico's 13th birthday!
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