Help the McDaniel Family Honor Samuel's Memory

My name is Deana McDaniel and I am the wife of Samuel McDaniel for nearly 16 years. He suddenly, with no warnings, died on Tuesday, August 6th at 11:59 am. I awoke Monday, August 5th to Sam having a seizure. I called 911 immediately and woke our 18-year-old son to help. Sam stopped breathing and Ricky performed CPR until firefighters took over. They finally got his heartbeat back but they lost it 3 times on the way to the hospital. He was then flown by air care to Charleston General Hospital in Charleston, WV. When we arrived, we were told he had a brain aneurysm which caused the seizure and his cardiac arrest. They told us it looked bad and he only had a slim chance of waking up, he never did and was pronounced brain dead Tuesday, August 6th at 11:59 am.

Anyone who knew Sam would tell you he was a family man and a hardworking man. He was the sole provider for his family which includes myself and 5 kids ages Gray 25, Alyssa 20, Ricky 18, Kaitlin 17, and his mini-me Elijah 11. Ricky and Elijah still live at home. His entire world revolved around our children and myself. Also, he was a PawPaw to 1 grandson and 1 grandson due in October.

He worked harder than anyone I know as an engineer and loved and hated it at the same time. He had just opened his own business in May and we had not had time to get health insurance or life insurance.

Everyone I've spoken to that he has worked with tells me how smart he was and he was a brilliant man.

We are setting this up for his memorial service and cremation and to help with bills and needs that myself and his children will face. As without him, we have no income until we can move forward.

Anything will help, even prayers for our family would be amazing.

He also graciously is an organ donor and is going through the process of donation so he can give life to someone else. He was always worried about others, never himself.

We are still in the process of a date and time for his memorial due to waiting on the donor process.