Support Benny's Recovery

On August 26, 2016, my cousin and dear friend Ben Bruncaj was the victim of a random and senseless act of violence, with dire consequences. After enjoying a night out with me, my wife, and his wife Arieta, he was assaulted without provocation as he was leaving the restaurant. He has been in the hospital with severe head and brain trauma ever since.

His current status is touch-and-go. Right now he is in critical condition and we are hoping for survival. We almost certainly will be looking at some permanent damage and a very long and slow recovery.

The past two weeks have been filled with progress and setbacks, many hopes and many fears. Benny is surrounded by loved ones day and night, supporting one another and praying for recovery.

This coming February, Benny will become a father for the very first time. With their two year anniversary only days away, his wife Arieta is holding up as best she can. We are all doing our best to make it through this pain but these tragic situations do not stop the grind of life. The hospital bills will come. The bills from the birth of his first child will stack on top of those, and in the midst of it all his wife will be doing everything she can to make sure Benny is taken care of, to make sure their child is taken care of, but she’s going to need our help. Benny needs our help.

All funds raised will go directly to Arieta to support her financially while Benny tries to come back to us. We know that if he is able to, he will be worried sick about his beloved wife and the baby they wanted so badly. He has been so excited to meet his baby girl and we want to do everything we can to make sure that it happens. 

Benny is loved by everyone he meets. If you know him, I am positive that you are nodding your head right now. He's the smartest guy I know, funny and kind and always accepts people with open arms. He is an essential part of the family and we can't imagine a world without him.

Anything you can do to help us support his wife and unborn daughter during these difficult times is greatly appreciated.