In Loving Memory of Chad Johnson: Honoring His Legacy

This fundraiser is for Chad Johnson, his wife Gina, and their family.

Late one Friday night, what began as any other day took a turn towards the unimaginable — Chad suffered a stroke, plunging our family into a realm of uncertainty and fear. Now, as he lies in the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Queens, with plans to transfer to The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan for more specialized care, the reality of our situation sinks in.

The medical bills are mounting, the costs of temporary lodging in New York are brutal - and there is no end in sight to his hospital stay as health complications continue to arise. We aren't leaving him.

Meanwhile, life back home in Iowa doesn't pause — mortgage payments, utilities, and daily expenses accumulate, threatening the security of the home our parents worked so hard to build.

Photo taken Wednesday, April 3rd - no longer visually tracking after suffering from the 5th of 7 stroke events. (information current as of 4/5/23)

Our dad was more than just a parent; he was the main provider, a beacon of strength and stability in our lives. Chad is the type of person who would never leave a conversation without a laugh, was a brother to all, and connected deeply with all he encountered. He is a father of five children and grandfather to 7 grandchildren.

His sudden illness has not only left him vulnerable but has also exposed the fragility of our family’s current financial situation. He worked tirelessly to support his family and their endeavors - most recently as a construction manager at Michels Corporation- but has never been the type of person to “leave the dirty work” to others.

This fundraiser aims to weave a net of support to catch a family in free fall. Our goals are threefold: to ensure that our dad is never alone in this daunting city, to cover the avalanche of medical and living expenses during this crisis, and to maintain the stability of the life our parents will return to once this storm has passed. We seek funds to cover hotel stays, food, transportation in NYC for family members, flights to and from Iowa, medical bills, and ongoing expenses at home.

We are very appreciative of any donations given and anyone who shares this Go Fund Me with their family and friends.

Your donation will do more than just provide financial relief; it will send a powerful message of hope and solidarity to our dad. It will ensure our mom can be by his side, offering the comfort and advocacy crucial in these moments. It will sustain a family's faith during its darkest hours, reinforcing the belief that through personal strength and the support of a community, recovery is possible.

We stand united, ready to support our dad with every resource we have. But we can't do this alone. With your help, we can ensure he is surrounded by love, fighting not just with the strength within him but buoyed by the support of all who care.

Together, we can make a difference in this crucial battle. Thank you for considering a donation to help my dad fight the toughest battle of his life. Your support means the world to us and signifies a beacon of hope in our time of need.

I'm Kaycee Johnson, the youngest of Chad's Daughters...

There are so many things that can be said about my father, but if nothing else, I can convey during these trying times. Whenever I introduce myself to someone as “Chad’s Daughter,” their faces light up, and the stories begin flowing. There has never been an exception to that rule. If you know the man, you love him. Plain and simple. The only hesitation I have ever possessed in revealing who my father is; is that most people from back home know him by a nickname that gets a knee-jerk reaction from unsuspecting passerbys to the conversation as people excitedly exclaim what could be considered a profanity. It was totally embarrassing as a kid, but the older I’ve gotten - the more I appreciate the excitement that people gain when they have the opportunity to talk about my dad.

Our family has faced many hardships over the years, much like many others. I jokingly refer to my childhood home as “Chad and Gina’s Home for Wayward Children” and have always had to hesitate when asked how many siblings I have… My parents raised us with the mentality that if someone needed help, we would be there. Not only did he financially support our immediate family, but also the revolving door of ‘chosen siblings’ that I have accumulated over the years… He worked tirelessly, sometimes maintaining two or three jobs at a time, but always managed to attend any function we had going on.

In recent years, he’s traveled for work more than he has been home, and that has been difficult for us for a myriad of reasons… Now the biggest hole in our hearts regarding this matter, specifically, is that he suffered this stroke while in New York - where we have no support system and there isn’t a financially feasible way to approach the circumstances at hand.

We are living a personal hell in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our reality has included logging in and out of loyalty/point/reward programs to find hotel and airline points that he may have accumulated to allow us temporary occupancy in New York - and we are very quickly running out of those reserves. We have explored the option of having him transported back to Iowa for continued care, but this is not an option due to the critical nature of his condition and would not be covered by his insurance.

Our days in New York consist of getting inundated with information while simultaneously feeling like we have none because it seems that with every update - the last was dubbed irrelevant. Rotating in and out of the ICU as they only allow one visitor at a time. Trying to remember to eat. Not being able to sleep. Delayed and canceled flights to get loved ones to and from NYC… Endless calls and messages trying to keep our loved ones across the country informed on the prognosis of their favorite person.

We have been attempting to take things “minute-by-minute” since this occurred. As his child, this has been exhausting beyond measure. If nothing else, please keep us in your thoughts during this time and hug your loved ones with everything you’ve got.