Patch Had Brain Surgery and Needs Your Help, Again

Hello Friends and Family of Patch:

It’s hard to believe. This kind of tragedy does not usually strike twice, but for my brother, it has. On January 29, 2025, Patch was at home feeling unwell. He became light-headed, fell in his kitchen, and struck the right side of his head on the counter. Thankfully, he remained conscious enough to call 911. Early the next morning, he had surgery to remove a section of his skull and repair three places of bleeding on his brain.

Now, three months later, he’s still wearing the “crash-test-dummy” helmet while awaiting surgery to replace that plate of skull on April 17. He is beginning to walk on his own and prepare his food. My husband, Mike, and I enjoy having him as a guest in our home, helping with his needs and taking him to appointments.

What is the phrase? “Déjà vu, all over again.” That is our lives right now. Therefore, again, we humbly request your support of Patch. Again, he needs the confidence and warmth provided by the generous contributions of so many people who know and love him. He keeps saying, with tears in his eyes, “I just want to get back to work, to see all those people.”

He’s dedicated to regular therapy and is improving steadily, but there will likely be a setback after the next skull surgery. Recovery from that requires at least six weeks in the care of others, during which he’ll be strong enough to have evaluations for other health conditions uncovered recently. He’s intent on returning to his apartment, with some safety upgrades - grab bars in the shower, for example. And eventually, he’ll return to work at Albertson’s.

Regaining full capacity may take another six to nine months. We have applied for Social Security Disability Income but will not learn if it’s granted until October 2025, and often, the first application is denied. So, we are back on Go Fund Me, to seek your generous support.

Patch lives modestly and his rent is reasonable. Most of his medical services are covered by insurance, and he receives food assistance. We’ve accessed the services available and he has a small savings accumulated from his last year of work. Our fundraising goal is set at $20,000, which will cover rent and living expenses for several months.