Rallying For Robbie's Recovery

RALLYING FOR ROBBIE’S RECOVERY!

Hello, and thank YOU for being here to support Robbie!

My name is Larry, and I’m incredibly proud to call Robbie my brother. In the picture, you’ll see Robbie on the left, with me and our sister Lisa on her wedding day—a moment of pure joy and togetherness.

On July 15, 2024, our lives were forever changed. While driving to work, Robbie suffered a sudden brain aneurysm, causing him to lose consciousness and crash into the back of a dump truck. This catastrophic accident compounded his injuries, leading to severe trauma to both his brain and body. Robbie was immediately extricated from his vehicle and airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma. During transport, he suffered another aneurysm and went into cardiac arrest. The hours that followed were some of the most excruciating of our lives as we anxiously awaited news from the doctors.

When we finally met with the Neuro ICU Team, we were devastated to hear the extent of Robbie’s injuries: multiple scalp, facial, and body lacerations; a broken left hip; a fractured left knee; temporal and frontal bone fractures; lacerations to his spleen; multiple rib fractures on both sides of his chest; an extrapleural hematoma; subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhages in his brain; PICA aneurysms (posterior communicating artery) on left side of his neck; evidence of strokes on both sides of his brain; an anoxic brain injury (a period of time without sufficient oxygen); and severe blunt force trauma to his head and brain. He also struggled to regulate his body temperature, and his blood pressure fluctuated dangerously.

Where We Are Today…

Thanks to the incredible efforts of his medical team, Robbie has undergone multiple risky procedures that successfully stopped the brain bleed, though cerebral spinal fluid continues to build pressure on the brain. Today, August 16, he is scheduled for surgery to place a shunt in his brain to relieve the pressure caused by this fluid. Last week, he was strong enough to undergo hip and knee surgery, and they also replaced his breathing tube with a tracheotomy. However, he’s been spiking high fevers, and the team continues to monitor him closely for any signs of infection or other complications.

The Good News!

Every day, we are profoundly grateful for the exceptional care Robbie receives from the Neuro ICU Team. Remarkably, besides his nutrition (via peg tube), hydration, and antiseizure medication, Robbie doesn’t require any other significant medications. He has made significant progress—his ventilator has been removed but on standby, and he’s now breathing on his own. He’s even able to produce coughs and clear his airways without assistance. His other organs are functioning normally and efficiently.

Robbie has been able to sit up in a chair several times, and he responds to stimuli from the medical team with flinches, pull aways, and pronounced facial expressions. He opens his eyes and moves his hands and arms slightly. When we hold his hand, we sometimes feel him squeezing and pulling, with the longest period of activity lasting two solid hours! While we can’t yet confirm whether these movements are voluntary or involuntary, I believe with all my heart that when I look into his eyes, he sees me.

The Road Ahead

The Neuro Team has emphasized the importance of patience as we navigate Robbie’s recovery. Brain injuries are complex and unique to each individual, making it impossible to predict what the future holds. Robbie will continue receiving treatment at the University of Maryland Neurosciences Unit, and when he’s stable enough, he’ll be transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

At 37, Robbie is still young, with so much life ahead of him. As his primary caregivers, our sister and I are committed to being by his side every step of the way. However, this journey is overwhelming, particularly for our elderly parents. The financial burden of medical expenses, ongoing treatments, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and other necessary supplies is immense. We’ve already received his first medical bill from the Shock Trauma Emergency Room, which alone exceeds $50,000. While we hope insurance will cover a significant portion, we know it won’t cover everything.

We continue to travel daily to the Neurosciences Unit to support Robbie in his healing process, and we are deeply grateful for your consideration of a financial donation to help cover the costs of his care, treatment, rehabilitation, and medical supplies.

Thank you again for taking the time to hear Robbie’s story and for your generosity and compassion as we continue to RALLY FOR ROBBIE’S RECOVERY!

With heartfelt thanks and appreciation,

Larry & Lisa