Lou Imbesi Needs Your Financial Support

Dear Lou Imbesi's Friends, Colleagues, and Family,

UPDATE: March 2022

Thanks to everyone for donating just over $31,000!  That money went directly to a Power Wheelechair, a Hoyer Lift, and a Camode Chair.


The next step is to support the $6,200 purchase of a Full Electric Bed & Invacare microAIR lateral rotation mattress system.  In simple terms, it is a bed that will reposition Lou every few hours to avoid bed sores and increase blood flow in his body.   Here is the bed that was purchased and now needs to be paid for...hopefully, from our support.


APRIL 2021:

Why we’re reaching out to you:

On April 4, 2021, Lou fell at his home and suffered a C5 neck fracture. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center and had emergency surgery. He was in ICU for a couple of weeks with no movement from the neck down. From ICU, he was transferred to the rehab unit and slowly making steady improvement. With the help of speech therapy, he is currently able to now eat a soft to normal diet and with physical and occupational therapy along with his determination to improve, he is now experiencing some movement of his left leg and left arm/hand, but not quite able to bear weight on that side. The right side of his body is not yet responding. For those who aren’t intimately familiar with Lou’s history, he was already paralyzed on his right side as a result his 2006 stroke(details below).

Given the severity of the trauma from his fall and subsequent spinal cord swelling, the Drs tell us there is no guarantee he will gain full use of his left arms/hands/leg/feet. While Lou has been in the hospital, we have been working with the social worker to make plans for his discharge, which is scheduled for May 6th.

It's really unbelievable and infuriating that Lou's insurer (Kaiser Medicare) is only covering 3 weeks of inpatient rehab for a quadriplegic.

Once his maximum out of pocket deductible of $5,600 is met, his insurance will pay for approximately 80% of some items like a power wheelchair, hoyer lift, and hospital bed, but 0% for bathroom equipment like a tilt in space shower, commode chair (for going to the bathroom and showering), incontinence supplies, and additional necessary ongoing supplies.

Lou has Kaiser managed Medicare and it has been a constant battle as they do not cover skilled nursing facilities (SNF), adult family homes, and assisted living. If Lou had regular Medicare, another private plan, or most versions of Medicaid, then he would be covered for a SNF stay for after completion of inpatient rehab.

On May 6th, Lou will be discharged from HMC to an adult family home on Mercer Island so to be close to the kids. He will require 24-hour care and an adult family home is the only place he will be able to receive this kind of care. The plan is for him to continue his rehab therapy and have home health care through Kaiser while at the adult family home.

Lou’s history:

For those of you who remember...prior to 2006, Lou was a husband, father, a high school principal, and an energetic fun loving guy who lit up a room. Skiing, boating, and all the outdoor adventures the Pacific Northwest has to offer was Lou's world.

All that came to a crashing and traumatic halt in 2006. Out of the blue, he had a life-changing stroke that left him permanently disabled(right side paralysis, cognitive and speech impairment) and thus, unable to work.

He has gotten along as well as possible over the last 15 years in his new normal, his new reality. He was a big part of his kid's lives, took care of himself and was more independent. His life had meaning and purpose.

Our ask on you behalf of Lou:

With this new spinal cord injury, Lou is having to start over. We are hopeful that Lou will regain some level of independence, but it is a long journey.

Lou's ex-wife Maria, AJ, and the kids (Luca, Ava, and Mia), James and Julia, Maria's parents Rick and Bibi, Al and Brian have been and continue to be of great financial and social support for Lou.

The necessary medical equipment will help Lou in his long road to recovery. Our goal is to raise $30,000 for Lou’s urgent healthcare needs. 100% of all donations will be used to help him get what he needs.

We thank you on behalf of Lou. Anything you and others can do to help is welcomed, appreciated, and very much needed.

Please share this with anyone else who knew Lou and you think would be willing to help him as well