Robert's Road to Recovery

UPDATE: Great news! Dad did not have to undergo a third surgery. His team determined that the risks outweighed the benefits and that the fluid was most likely harmless old blood from his previous surgery. He is back at his skilled nursing facility where he is working with therapy to get stronger each day. The next steps are to get him admitted to an acute rehab center where he will participate in more intense therapy (3 hours daily) and then begin the process of getting he and Rosie back home to Texas. Although he still has challenges to face, dad continues to show us everyday how incredibly strong and determined he is. You can't see it on the picture, but dad is wearing a shirt that reads "I am tougher than a stroke", and that he is! On behalf of dad and his family, we thank you all so much for the continued prayers, phone calls, support, and donations. Hopefully with the next update, we will have a solid timeline and plan to get him home!

UPDATE: Dad had a fall from his wheelchair yesterday, leading him to the ER for evaluation. Unfortunately, the MRI shows he has a 5cm accumulation of an undetermined fluid (which could be blood). This discovery had nothing to do with the fall so we are just thankful it was discovered. So, Dad will undergo a 3rd surgery today to clean out and remove the fluid. This will entail the removal of the bone flap, titanium plates, and screws to perform the procedure and subsequently replace it. This is a huge setback and we are heartbroken to see him go through this. Please continue to pray for Dad that the surgery goes well and that he recovers quickly. Thank you to all who have donated and shared. We are truly grateful!

On the morning of May 23, 2023, my dad, Robert Crider, had his whole world turned upside down. He suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke (a brain bleed) causing paralysis on the left side of his body, severe swelling in his brain, and seizures. He fought for his life in the neurological critical care unit for several weeks, eventually undergoing a lifesaving craniectomy to relieve the pressure on his brain. Dad is recovering in a rehabilitation facility in Hillsboro, OR where he has resided for the past 4 years while on a work assignment. On Friday, July 28, surgery was performed to replace the bone flap, which is stabilized with titanium plates and screws. Dad has worked very hard and made miraculous progress, but he still has a long road ahead of him. Most importantly, he and his wife Rosie are getting back home to Texas where they have the support and love of their family and friends that they so desperately need during this time. Due to his condition, Dad will no longer be able to work, leaving him unemployed and without income. He will likely have a period without health insurance while he awaits the lengthy process of filing for disability. Throughout his years of working as a Quality Control Inspector, Dad has worked in Texas, Arizona, New York, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Ireland, and Singapore, making lifelong friends along the way. Many of these friends as well as family have reached out asking how they can help so it was decided to organize this GoFundMe. Funds raised will help to cover accrued medical expenses, medications, medical equipment, and getting him home which may require a medical transportation service. Recovery will be ongoing, so we hope to provide Dad with continued therapy and resources to help him live life to the fullest again. Anyone who knows my dad knows he is the sweetest, funniest, most gentle person you will ever meet. He loved his job and the people he worked with and most of all, providing for his family. On behalf of my dad, Rosie, and our family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of the love, support, and prayers received thus far.