Help Papa Joe Gerr recover from a bad stroke
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Dear Friends,
As most of you know, Brad’s father, Joe Gerlach, suffered a debilitating stroke on the golf course. The stroke was caused by a blood clot that formed in his brain which stemmed from an irregular heart beat. Doctors removed the clot and installed a pacemaker to regulate his heart beat. He was moved from hospital to a convalescent rehab facility where he picked up cellulitis in his arm which he is also now being treated for, and now he is in a board and care facility in Huntington Beach, CA.
Joe is an amazing man. At 18, he earned a spot as a diver on the Hungarian national team. He took 4th at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, and he was one of 35 athletes to defect to the USA. He went on to become a Big 10 Champion Diver for the University of Michigan, a two time USA National AAU champion, and he was the coach of 1964 bronze medalist, Larry Andreasen.
In the 1970’s, he embarked on an even more radical career choice, that of professional dare devil. In 1972, “Jumping Joe Gerlach” plummeted out of a 100 foot high hot air balloon at a Monday Night football game. He jumped off ten story buildings, headlined at Circus Circus in Las Vegas and appeared with Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”
Most importantly, though, he is the father of my husband Bradley and his sister Corinne, Grandpa to her son Chase, and our children Zeppelin, and Zsigmond, whom he is yet to meet! Throughout Brad’s life, Joe has been by his side. Joe was his best friend, coach and confidante. Joe took Brad to the beach three times a day and filmed every session. He guided Brad throughout his professional career helped him reach his goal of being ranked #1 in the world. Although Joe never surfed, he used his Olympic training and clinical mind to become one of the world’s foremost experts in surfing technique. He passed that obsession with form along to Brad who’s made it his life’s work as well.
Joe is still strong as an ox, but the stroke has left him needing full time care. We would love to take him in, but we’re living in Australia 8000 miles away. Of course, we’re dying to go see him and help him through this, but we’re prohibited from doing so until early 2021 at the soonest because of the Covid-19 restrictions. This is heartbreaking for all of us, but especially for Brad.
Joe’s Medicare insurance unfortunately does not cover any of his necessary post stroke needs. He has managed to regain some movement, but needs assistance with the simple things in life, from walking, going to the bathroom, memorising things and communicating. The current cost of Joe’s care is USD 7700 per month. 4600 for his nursing home and 3100 for his full time carer, that is almost 11K AUD per month. In the best of times, this would be a stretch, but with a pandemic and both Brad and I trying to get new businesses off the ground while caring for young children, this couldn’t have come at a more perilous time financially for us.
Brad and I are proud, successful, hardworking people. We have always done well for ourselves, but this situation has pulled us beyond our limit. This is difficult for us, but we humbly ask your assistance in helping to cover the cost of Joe’s care for the next six months. We really believe that proper treatment combined with Joe’s trademark Hungarian humor, grit and determination will get him to a much better place by 2021.
We hope that for all of us.
As most of you know, Brad’s father, Joe Gerlach, suffered a debilitating stroke on the golf course. The stroke was caused by a blood clot that formed in his brain which stemmed from an irregular heart beat. Doctors removed the clot and installed a pacemaker to regulate his heart beat. He was moved from hospital to a convalescent rehab facility where he picked up cellulitis in his arm which he is also now being treated for, and now he is in a board and care facility in Huntington Beach, CA.
Joe is an amazing man. At 18, he earned a spot as a diver on the Hungarian national team. He took 4th at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, and he was one of 35 athletes to defect to the USA. He went on to become a Big 10 Champion Diver for the University of Michigan, a two time USA National AAU champion, and he was the coach of 1964 bronze medalist, Larry Andreasen.
In the 1970’s, he embarked on an even more radical career choice, that of professional dare devil. In 1972, “Jumping Joe Gerlach” plummeted out of a 100 foot high hot air balloon at a Monday Night football game. He jumped off ten story buildings, headlined at Circus Circus in Las Vegas and appeared with Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”
Most importantly, though, he is the father of my husband Bradley and his sister Corinne, Grandpa to her son Chase, and our children Zeppelin, and Zsigmond, whom he is yet to meet! Throughout Brad’s life, Joe has been by his side. Joe was his best friend, coach and confidante. Joe took Brad to the beach three times a day and filmed every session. He guided Brad throughout his professional career helped him reach his goal of being ranked #1 in the world. Although Joe never surfed, he used his Olympic training and clinical mind to become one of the world’s foremost experts in surfing technique. He passed that obsession with form along to Brad who’s made it his life’s work as well.
Joe is still strong as an ox, but the stroke has left him needing full time care. We would love to take him in, but we’re living in Australia 8000 miles away. Of course, we’re dying to go see him and help him through this, but we’re prohibited from doing so until early 2021 at the soonest because of the Covid-19 restrictions. This is heartbreaking for all of us, but especially for Brad.
Joe’s Medicare insurance unfortunately does not cover any of his necessary post stroke needs. He has managed to regain some movement, but needs assistance with the simple things in life, from walking, going to the bathroom, memorising things and communicating. The current cost of Joe’s care is USD 7700 per month. 4600 for his nursing home and 3100 for his full time carer, that is almost 11K AUD per month. In the best of times, this would be a stretch, but with a pandemic and both Brad and I trying to get new businesses off the ground while caring for young children, this couldn’t have come at a more perilous time financially for us.
Brad and I are proud, successful, hardworking people. We have always done well for ourselves, but this situation has pulled us beyond our limit. This is difficult for us, but we humbly ask your assistance in helping to cover the cost of Joe’s care for the next six months. We really believe that proper treatment combined with Joe’s trademark Hungarian humor, grit and determination will get him to a much better place by 2021.
We hope that for all of us.
Organizer
Anna Gerlach
Organizer
Bells Beach, VIC