Tom’s Road to Recovery

West Nile Virus, a devastating virus that can change your life in an instant! My husband, Tom Coco, is going through this ordeal that happened just a month before his 60th birthday. Tom contracted the West Nile Virus, and it has taken nearly everything from him: his independence, joy in gardening, fixing things, playing with his beloved dog, Bella, cooking, family activities, and the use of the bathroom and even bathing. This virus has caused him to be bedridden and wheelchair bound, with constant pain and swelling in his legs and feet, and he needs round-the-clock care due to this virus that left him paralyzed on his left leg from the waist down.

We have been married nearly 34 years and never in our wildest dreams did we think that something so trivial as a mosquito bite could impact our lives. On September 12, 2022, Tom’s entire world changed in an instant when he collapsed in our home and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. He was admitted into the hospital and stayed for about two months until he came home on November 10, 2022. This has been a nightmare from day one and while he is home and doing the best he can, he is in constant pain and has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

The doctors who diagnosed Tom with West Nile Virus called him “a real mystery.” The diagnosis is rare, and he went through multiple tests until it was discovered. His initial reason to be in the hospital was left leg paralysis. He then started experiencing more symptoms as the days went by and was in and out of consciousness, suffered from severe tremors, had a loss of appetite, nausea, and high fevers of 105. He couldn’t eat for weeks and lost over 100 lbs. while in the hospital. We were told that he had a very severe case of this virus and that he was lucky, because it could be fatal.

His body was at the point of shutting down, and Tom had a few close calls while in the hospital. We were not sure if he was going to make it through and he doesn’t even remember anything of what happened to him, but he somehow fought his way back. On top of what this virus put him through, he also suffered paralysis from the waist down and lost the use of his left leg. His right leg had some movement but very limited. Tom went through numerous blood tests, MRIs and CAT Scans during his time in the hospital. During that time, they discovered that he also had Lyme Disease, which he got from a tick bite. He had a pic line inserted to get antibiotics into his body to help treat the Lyme Disease, but unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for the West Nile Virus. This virus attacks your central nervous system and affects the brain, which in Tom’s case, it disrupted the signals from the brain that sends messages for him to move his legs.

Tom has come a long way since his hospital stay and he has regained most of his weight and strength back. He has been in extensive therapy for about a year now and has made some progress. The main problem he still suffers from is extreme pain in his legs and feet along with paralysis in his left leg, and although the nerves take a long time to heal, there is no guarantee that he will be able to walk again. When he came home from the hospital, we had to use a hydraulic lift to get him in and out of bed and to place him in his wheelchair and he was not able to use a toilet or commode due to his limitations and this made his life even more debilitating.

In an instant, Tom’s life has changed, and he can no longer enjoy the things that brought him joy in life. Tom loved cooking for us -- especially his famous omelets, his delicious chicken soup and his specialty, spaghetti and crabs. These are all the wonderful things we all take for granted and to have it ripped away is just devastating and very depressing for Tom, and for our family. He has some good days and really tries to think of positive things like being able to walk again, but it is difficult, and on his not-so-good days, it is just really hard for him and difficult for us to know what to do. He does not want to spend the rest of his days cooped up in the house and just sitting in his wheelchair, watching television all day long. He was always so very active, and it is devastating to see him this way.

My daughters and I set up this campaign to raise money to help Tom with his ongoing recovery that will hopefully lead to a more independent way of life for him. Insurance does not pay for many of the sustained services, supplies and renovations that Tom requires to improve. We are his primary caregivers, along with my sisters and other family members. It has put a tremendous strain on us both mentally and financially, and having the extra financial help would truly be a blessing. With your help, we hope to raise enough money to:

· Construct and install a handicapped bathroom on our first floor and purchase a special wheelchair for shower and toilet use. Tom needs a full handicap bathroom so that a special wheelchair can be used for the shower and also be utilized to go over a toilet, rather than Tom having to go to the bathroom in the bed or a commode.

· Purchase a handicapped accessible van. Tom is in need of a handicap van for doctor and therapy visits, and also as an escape from his confinement to the house! The type of van needed is one where he is able to sit in his wheelchair, since it is difficult for him to maneuver himself to sit in a seat. He does have use of his right leg and the doctors have said that he would be able to drive, but he would need a special chair to shift into so that he can roll the wheelchair in the van and then move into this special seat. The transportation systems available are not always convenient as they have time restrictions and the ones we have to pay for are expensive – it can cost us $360 in transportation costs to take him to one doctor’s visit.

· Purchase a good quality hospital bed and mattress.

· Purchase and install permanent ramps in the front and back of the house.

· Purchase ongoing medical supplies, such as gloves, bed pads, adult diapers, wipes; urinals.

Any donation, large or small, would be so appreciated by Tom and our family. Your money will help Tom to have a more productive, independent and meaningful life, as he strives to recover from this debilitating illness. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so much for your consideration and generosity.