Help Bob Beighton of Delavan Recover From Stroke

Hello, my name is Tony Dobbs.

My brother-in law, Bob Beighton, of Delavan, WI, has been very sick. I know most of you were probably aware that he has been struggling with neurological inflammation that has caused him difficulty walking and weakness the past year and a half. Despite these physical limitations he has faced this obstacle with a positive outlook and determination to not let this impede his ability to keep living life. In fact, he had just spent a week vacationing with us and our immediate family in Lake Tahoe (where the photo below was taken).

We were shocked when we received a call, the following Wednesday (Aug 2nd), that he had been taken by ambulance to the local hospital in WI. He was septic, suffering from endocarditis, and had abscesses on both sides of his lower spinal cord (bilateral lumbar epidural abscesses). As his condition worsened and he required a higher acuity of care, he was transferred to UW Madison Medical Center where he underwent spinal surgery to treat the abscesses. After the surgery, on August 12th, Bob suffered a massive ischemic stroke. While doctors were able to remove most of the clot via minimally invasive surgery, he remained in critical condition, intubated, and on a ventilator for over a week. Eventuality, he had a tracheostomy and feeding tube placed, and doctors slowly started the process of waking him up from the sedation and allowing him to start breathing on his own.

Bob spent almost a month in the hospital, and on August 30th, he was transferred to a rehabilitation facility where he is currently receiving daily therapies (physical, speech, and occupational). He is improving a little bit each day and is determined to get better. His perseverance and recovery are truly a miracle!

The rehabilitation facility has instructed his wife that he will be returning home in a wheelchair. As Bob’s long term deficits are unknown at this point, many accommodations and assistive medical devices are needed for him. (Hoyer lifts, grab bars, wheelchair ramps, just to name a few). In addition, it is unknown what their out of pocket medical fees may be as his care at UW Madison was “out of network.”

If you have the means, please consider giving to Bob’s fund. He is a kind and generous man who has touched hearts of many -adults and children alike.

If you don’t have the means - or rather have skills or equipment that could assist Bob in his transition home please reach out to me.

For those of you who have already reached and helped out via monetary gifts, meals, visitation, etc... Bob and his family are eternally grateful and thankful for your support.

Lastly, and most importantly, please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers for continued healing, strength, and endurance through this trying time.

Thank you and blessings to each and everyone!