Pastor Albert J Gupton Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”.
On May 3rd, 2018, my husband, Pastor Albert Gupton, Sr. and our son left our home in Fort Worth, Texas for Buffalo, New York. My husband was asked to preach for a friend’s Pastoral Anniversary. Three days later, while in Buffalo, on May 6th my vibrant, charismatic and one-of-a-kind husband, father, family-member, and friend began to tell the congregation what the lord had on his heart and read the scripture before he gave the title of his message. I was told by many waiting to hear him that his words were beginning to slur. Our son recognized his dad was in distress, saw his dad collapsing, and immediately jumped out of his seat and caught him in his arms. My son immediately called me in Texas via FaceTime I asked him to put the phone to my hubby’s ear so that he could hear my voice. (Thank God for technology).
It was in that moment that life as he and we knew it, drastically changed.
Pastor Gupton was blessed to have people around him in that moment and was rushed to Buffalo General Hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, one of the doctors said, “Mrs. Gupton, your husband had a stroke”. It was swiftly communicated by the medical team that Pastor Gupton had suffered a “massive catastrophic Hemorrhagic Stroke” to a very critical part of his brain on the left side This is a vital area of the brain that is responsible for many functions like speech, balance, and walking.
It was made clear from the onset by the Neuro ICU medical team that my husband may not make it past the first 24 hours and definitely not past the first week, as patients of this type of stroke rarely do. A week later, Pastor Gupton opened his eyes. And, each day since the stroke, Pastor Gupton consistently shows us miracles each day. Including recovering from procedures to relieve pressure around his brain, to opening his eyes, and to squeezing our hands to let us know he was still fighting. And though on life support, he showed at times that he could breathe above his ventilator and began speaking one word at a time. The first week of June, Pastor Gupton was removed off the breathing machine and drew his own breaths! On June 11th, he ate his first meal and June 18th, he took his first step with assistance.
On July 20th Pastor Gupton was moved to Sub Acute (HighPointe) Rehab Center where he will be receiving intense rehabilitation to helping himself. He and his wife were told the way he is progressing it should take no more than 3 – 4 weeks. Through his stay at Buffalo General Hospital he progressed and is able to walk/sit/stand with assistance, and able to recognize everyone who comes to visit him. The recommended treatment is physio to learn how to stand on his own, use the right side of his body, bath himself…..basically become independent. There was no paralysis and he never lost total brain function (Thank God) the Brain cells just have to reconnect, but he will have to re learn basic movements. We still do not know the full extent of the effects. It will show further with time, but we have absolute faith that through proper rehabilitation Pastor Gupton will make a full recovery!
While Pastor Gupton is showing us who we have known him to be all his life - a fighter– his life as we knew it, is going to be dramatically altered and challenging. He may require many months of recovery to gain complete functioning of his right side, and total independence to how he was prior to the stroke.(Only God Knows) He will need medical and therapeutic support to attain back a quality of life that so many of us take for granted.
We are now facing the reality of our financial situation, and coming to terms with the fact that Pastor Gupton will not be returning to work in the near future. We have medical bills to cover, as well as we have to pay for lodging accommodations in Buffalo, New York, travel costs to get back to DFW from Buffalo, moving to a new home to accommodate a wheelchair, medical supportive services, household bills, etc.
With support from family and friends, we have been managing so far, but the road ahead is long and unknown. We are extremely grateful to all who have supported us over the past two months with hot, home-made meals, funding, and endless prayers. Now we find ourselves reaching out to the community for financial support. Our family will deeply appreciate any donation large or small. We are asking friends, family, organizations, the community at large, and anyone that has been personally touched by Pastor Gupton’s many acts of love, kindness, spirit and generosity to assist us in eliminating financial hardships and barriers to his recovery. This is going to be long and challenging, but not impossible, journey. Truly, no amount is too small, and any support is deeply appreciated
Favor and blessings
On May 3rd, 2018, my husband, Pastor Albert Gupton, Sr. and our son left our home in Fort Worth, Texas for Buffalo, New York. My husband was asked to preach for a friend’s Pastoral Anniversary. Three days later, while in Buffalo, on May 6th my vibrant, charismatic and one-of-a-kind husband, father, family-member, and friend began to tell the congregation what the lord had on his heart and read the scripture before he gave the title of his message. I was told by many waiting to hear him that his words were beginning to slur. Our son recognized his dad was in distress, saw his dad collapsing, and immediately jumped out of his seat and caught him in his arms. My son immediately called me in Texas via FaceTime I asked him to put the phone to my hubby’s ear so that he could hear my voice. (Thank God for technology).
It was in that moment that life as he and we knew it, drastically changed.
Pastor Gupton was blessed to have people around him in that moment and was rushed to Buffalo General Hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, one of the doctors said, “Mrs. Gupton, your husband had a stroke”. It was swiftly communicated by the medical team that Pastor Gupton had suffered a “massive catastrophic Hemorrhagic Stroke” to a very critical part of his brain on the left side This is a vital area of the brain that is responsible for many functions like speech, balance, and walking.
It was made clear from the onset by the Neuro ICU medical team that my husband may not make it past the first 24 hours and definitely not past the first week, as patients of this type of stroke rarely do. A week later, Pastor Gupton opened his eyes. And, each day since the stroke, Pastor Gupton consistently shows us miracles each day. Including recovering from procedures to relieve pressure around his brain, to opening his eyes, and to squeezing our hands to let us know he was still fighting. And though on life support, he showed at times that he could breathe above his ventilator and began speaking one word at a time. The first week of June, Pastor Gupton was removed off the breathing machine and drew his own breaths! On June 11th, he ate his first meal and June 18th, he took his first step with assistance.
On July 20th Pastor Gupton was moved to Sub Acute (HighPointe) Rehab Center where he will be receiving intense rehabilitation to helping himself. He and his wife were told the way he is progressing it should take no more than 3 – 4 weeks. Through his stay at Buffalo General Hospital he progressed and is able to walk/sit/stand with assistance, and able to recognize everyone who comes to visit him. The recommended treatment is physio to learn how to stand on his own, use the right side of his body, bath himself…..basically become independent. There was no paralysis and he never lost total brain function (Thank God) the Brain cells just have to reconnect, but he will have to re learn basic movements. We still do not know the full extent of the effects. It will show further with time, but we have absolute faith that through proper rehabilitation Pastor Gupton will make a full recovery!
While Pastor Gupton is showing us who we have known him to be all his life - a fighter– his life as we knew it, is going to be dramatically altered and challenging. He may require many months of recovery to gain complete functioning of his right side, and total independence to how he was prior to the stroke.(Only God Knows) He will need medical and therapeutic support to attain back a quality of life that so many of us take for granted.
We are now facing the reality of our financial situation, and coming to terms with the fact that Pastor Gupton will not be returning to work in the near future. We have medical bills to cover, as well as we have to pay for lodging accommodations in Buffalo, New York, travel costs to get back to DFW from Buffalo, moving to a new home to accommodate a wheelchair, medical supportive services, household bills, etc.
With support from family and friends, we have been managing so far, but the road ahead is long and unknown. We are extremely grateful to all who have supported us over the past two months with hot, home-made meals, funding, and endless prayers. Now we find ourselves reaching out to the community for financial support. Our family will deeply appreciate any donation large or small. We are asking friends, family, organizations, the community at large, and anyone that has been personally touched by Pastor Gupton’s many acts of love, kindness, spirit and generosity to assist us in eliminating financial hardships and barriers to his recovery. This is going to be long and challenging, but not impossible, journey. Truly, no amount is too small, and any support is deeply appreciated
Favor and blessings
Organizer
Wanda Gupton
Organizer
Fort Worth, TX