Help Anson Recover From a Hemorrhagic Stroke

I'm Adrian Mak. This GoFundMe is for the recovery of my uncle Anson Mak who suffered from a Hemorrhagic Stroke.

At 2 in the morning on January 2nd, 2023. Anson who is 37, was doing his daily before-bed routine when he suddenly experienced muscle weakness and slurred speech while having a drooped face. Anson lives with his mother in an apartment studio. Anson's mother suffers from Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and is physically challenged. Still, Anson was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)'s Emergency Room within 25 minutes and was soon diagnosed with a left hemisphere hemorrhagic stroke in the ER. Hemorrhagic Strokes account for 13% of all Stroke cases, it's caused by a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue, causing rapid cell death. Anson is then admitted into the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Anson is currently conscious and awake but is right-sided paralyzed and cannot swallow. (As of 2/2/2023)

Anson was treated for a brain tumor at the age of 7. He underwent multiple surgeries, years of chemotherapy, and electrotherapy. It is proven that the therapy he has undergone contributed to weakened blood vessels in his brain. Paired with high blood pressure which lead to this tragic incident.

Anson is important to our family as he looks after his mother who suffers from EGPA, which is an ultra-rare disease that is a form of vasculitis, which means inflammation of the blood vessels that can reduce blood flow causing tissue and organ damage, and only affects 2.4-6.8 people per million people.

Those who know Anson know how caring, how he brings humor, and how passionate he is about life. He worked at Disneyland as a drawing instructor and he brought smiles to countless kids, visitors, and countless more. Anson moved back to Canada in order to look after his mother in 2021. He has since worked hard to support his mother's EGPA treatments and their daily necessities. Anson is an amazing uncle, son, colleague, friend, and caregiver. He is an incredible uncle with a lot of life left to live, and so many more smiles to give.

Communicating with Anson through an iPad

Funds raised will be used for paying off hospital bills, affording future rehabilitation therapy, and his mother's daily necessities. Unused funds will be all donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

It is my family's hope that this fundraiser will supplement our financial need for Anson's treatment and his mother's daily necessities. The situation will be reassessed as improvements arise in the future.

I ask for any means of compassion and generosity in helping my family if you have the means to do so, through donation or sharing of this initiative with friends and colleagues. My family and I know that this is a significant undertaking, and every gesture of assistance is invaluable to me, my family, and his friends and colleagues, no matter how small it may seem to you.

I and my family thank you from the bottom of our hearts for every bit of your generosity and support for Anson.

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