Chad Smet's journey home
Donation protected
This Go Fund Me site for Chad Smet is being written by many... many of us who love Chad, Angie and their 2
boys, and have been praying non-stop for his recovery and hoping he will be strong enough to return to his home state soon. We are hoping to help ease the stress of expenses and help get Chad home...
On Dec 18, 2014 Chad was in Ohio on his way to WV to deliver a truckload. He stopped to weigh his truck, parked, and went inside to get his scale ticket. He was talking to people inside and suddenly started to fall. Two people standing there grabbed him and tried holding him up. Someone yelled "CALL 911", and a retired medic was eating in the other room and came right over. His initial thought was a heart attack by the way Chad collapsed but quickly knew Chad was having a stroke by the way his face was drooping. He provided help to Chad by having him move his arms while someone from the truck stop was talking to Chad to keep him awake and aware. We were told that Chad was talking about his wife, two kids, dogs, and what he was doing for Christmas and even joking around while waiting for the ambulance. When the ambulance arrived, people from the truck stop carried Chad into one while paramedics from the other ambulance jumped in to provide extra help because they could tell it was bad. At that time, he was completely paralyzed on his left side. In the ambulance they gave Chad TPA to start breaking up the clots. Chad's family was told they needed to get to him as soon as possible (they live in WI, over 9 hours away) and they rushed to his side. We couldn't be more thankful to those incredible strangers at the truck stop for providing a quick response and having the knowledge to handle the situation so quickly. They saved Chad's life.
Chad remains in the Cardiac ICU in Ohio, fighting every day to recover from the damage the heart attack and stroke have caused.
For the past 52 days and counting, Chad's wife Angie has been at his hospital bedside, far from home. There is no where she would rather be than with Chad, and it has been heartwarming to see their love for each other carrying them through this difficult time in their lives. He tells her over and over that he loves her and thanks her often every day for everything she does for him... adjusting pillows, turning the fan on or off, getting ice chips, rubbing his arm when it is sore, holding his hand and offering comfort during medical procedures that are painful, and just being there all day every day for him. Knowing that when he wakes up she will be there and staying until he falls asleep at night has been such a comfort for Chad and we believe, a huge source of strength. Their story is one of enduring love, for better and for worse -- we hope they will get to enjoy the better again soon.
It has been heartbreaking to watch them go through the frightening moments, and we cheer them on through his progress. Chad has come a long way, however he is still working towards the next step - being stable enough to transfer out of the cardiac ICU and to a hospital focused on rehabilitation for his stroke. We are praying he will get there very soon, and then to grow strong enough to make it back home to Wisconsin to continue his recovery there.
Throughout this life changing event, medical expenses have incurred as well as living expenses for Angie to stay near Chad's hospital in Ohio. When he is stable enough, Chad will be transported back to Wisconsin. Once home, Chad will continue the journey to recovery with ongoing therapy and will be unable to work during that time.
We would like to help take away some of the stress and worry of their expenses so they can focus on Chad's recovery.
This is our opportunity to help Chad and Angie who have been through so much. From the bottom of our hearts... Thank You so much for your help!
Angie and Chad are so incredibly grateful for their family, friends, aquaintances and everyone who has been praying for Chad and sending their kind words of support on Caring Bridge. Every thoughtful gesture has made this difficult time that much easier to bear. Thank you all.
~Hug the ones you love with both arms.
boys, and have been praying non-stop for his recovery and hoping he will be strong enough to return to his home state soon. We are hoping to help ease the stress of expenses and help get Chad home...
On Dec 18, 2014 Chad was in Ohio on his way to WV to deliver a truckload. He stopped to weigh his truck, parked, and went inside to get his scale ticket. He was talking to people inside and suddenly started to fall. Two people standing there grabbed him and tried holding him up. Someone yelled "CALL 911", and a retired medic was eating in the other room and came right over. His initial thought was a heart attack by the way Chad collapsed but quickly knew Chad was having a stroke by the way his face was drooping. He provided help to Chad by having him move his arms while someone from the truck stop was talking to Chad to keep him awake and aware. We were told that Chad was talking about his wife, two kids, dogs, and what he was doing for Christmas and even joking around while waiting for the ambulance. When the ambulance arrived, people from the truck stop carried Chad into one while paramedics from the other ambulance jumped in to provide extra help because they could tell it was bad. At that time, he was completely paralyzed on his left side. In the ambulance they gave Chad TPA to start breaking up the clots. Chad's family was told they needed to get to him as soon as possible (they live in WI, over 9 hours away) and they rushed to his side. We couldn't be more thankful to those incredible strangers at the truck stop for providing a quick response and having the knowledge to handle the situation so quickly. They saved Chad's life.
Chad remains in the Cardiac ICU in Ohio, fighting every day to recover from the damage the heart attack and stroke have caused.
For the past 52 days and counting, Chad's wife Angie has been at his hospital bedside, far from home. There is no where she would rather be than with Chad, and it has been heartwarming to see their love for each other carrying them through this difficult time in their lives. He tells her over and over that he loves her and thanks her often every day for everything she does for him... adjusting pillows, turning the fan on or off, getting ice chips, rubbing his arm when it is sore, holding his hand and offering comfort during medical procedures that are painful, and just being there all day every day for him. Knowing that when he wakes up she will be there and staying until he falls asleep at night has been such a comfort for Chad and we believe, a huge source of strength. Their story is one of enduring love, for better and for worse -- we hope they will get to enjoy the better again soon.
It has been heartbreaking to watch them go through the frightening moments, and we cheer them on through his progress. Chad has come a long way, however he is still working towards the next step - being stable enough to transfer out of the cardiac ICU and to a hospital focused on rehabilitation for his stroke. We are praying he will get there very soon, and then to grow strong enough to make it back home to Wisconsin to continue his recovery there.
Throughout this life changing event, medical expenses have incurred as well as living expenses for Angie to stay near Chad's hospital in Ohio. When he is stable enough, Chad will be transported back to Wisconsin. Once home, Chad will continue the journey to recovery with ongoing therapy and will be unable to work during that time.
We would like to help take away some of the stress and worry of their expenses so they can focus on Chad's recovery.
This is our opportunity to help Chad and Angie who have been through so much. From the bottom of our hearts... Thank You so much for your help!
Angie and Chad are so incredibly grateful for their family, friends, aquaintances and everyone who has been praying for Chad and sending their kind words of support on Caring Bridge. Every thoughtful gesture has made this difficult time that much easier to bear. Thank you all.
~Hug the ones you love with both arms.
Organizer
Kari Sikorski
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT