Help the Cosby Family

Hi, my name is Amy Barragree, and I've established this fundraiser to help a family that has faced enormous adversity, but continues to thrive in love and hope. I met the Cosbys at University High School, where our kids played basketball together - before the event that changed their lives forever.

I hope that you'll take a moment to read Dr. Chris Cosby's story below, and be moved to assist him and his family on their journey to rebuild their lives after a devastating medical event.

With this fundraiser, we hope to raise money to purchase a recumbent three-wheel trike for Doc. Because of damage to his body related to his massive stroke, he's unable to walk very far without experiencing extreme pain in his foot. And Doc wants and needs physical exercise to continue healing and to prevent future damage. It'll also give him a way to get outdoors in the fresh air, ride with his wife Cindi, and socialize in his neighborhood. He's not able to use a regular bicycle because of stroke-related balance issues, so it's important that he has a stable vehicle that he can ride safely.

Please read on to learn more about this very special gentleman, his journey, and his family. And once you get to know him a bit, perhaps you'll be moved to help him along his journey to reclaim his happy, healthy productive life.

Christopher Cosby has always been something of a Superman. He grew up in tiny Wabash, Indiana, with a dream and a desire to make a difference. He studied hard, worked hard, and by any measure had realized the American Dream.

Doc, as he's affectionately known by friends & patients alike, holds degrees in both law and medicine. He was enjoying life as a practicing physician, loving husband, father of four, and avid sports fan.

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Then ten seconds changed everything.

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Doc was hard at work seeing his urgent care patients when he felt it. IT. Dizziness. Disorientation. Loss.

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The nurses thought Doc was playing another joke on the staff. He was known for his humor - and had even done stand-up comedy in his younger days. But this time, it was no joke. Dr. Christopher Cosby was in a fight for his life.

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It was a massive stroke. In one fell swoop, he lost memories, knowledge, ability. He couldn't remember his own name. Or words, or emotions. The stroke wiped it all away.

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Eventually, the family lost their home, their cars, their savings. - and the life they worked so hard to create for their family.

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But that wasn't going to stop Chris, Cindi, and their family.

Today, Chris continues to need care, as he has aphasia, blindness in one eye, and limited sensation and mobility. Cindi is a devoted caregiver - a role that she manages while working outside the home as a helper for other families in order to support her own.

The Cosbys are determined to spread the message of hope after loss, and to give other families inspiration to make the long climb back after a devastating medical event. They know that they will never regain the lifestyle that they once had - when Chris was a physician and Cindi was a stay-at-home mom - and they are at peace with that and grateful for the progress that Chris has made. However, basic needs are still a struggle. Chris needs equipment and therapies that are not covered by Medicaid. They have no emergency fund, and every unexpected need and expense puts them in jeopardy. If folks rally behind Chris and his family and exceed the goal for this fundraiser, all extra funds will be put towards building a fund for emergencies so that the family's situation will be less vulnerable going forward. If you would like to help, please know that your kindness and demonstration of love is enormously appreciated by this family.