Support David Hedges' Stroke Recovery

Support David Hedges’ Recovery Journey

In the early hours of Sunday, July 21, 2024—just one day before his 64th birthday—my brother David suffered a severe stroke that changed his life in an instant. I share this with a voice filled with hope, love, and a heart full of courage—everything David will need to get through this life-altering moment.

When I woke up to a message from the ER, my heart sank. Rushing to the hospital, I was met with an unimaginable sight:

David was completely unresponsive and unable to breathe on his own. In that moment, realizing the gravity of his condition, I committed myself to doing everything in my power to save his quality of life—achieving whatever level of recovery is possible.

We have now passed the 40-day mark since that fateful day, and our focus is on celebrating the small victories each day. David has been working tirelessly with his therapy team to regain as much function as possible. He has regained the ability to swallow on his own, speak clearly, and manage his thoughts—he's a thinker at heart! He has partial use of his right side and is working to improve his dexterity. Unfortunately, his left arm and leg, down to his foot, remain unresponsive. He is unable to read as his vision is still impaired. Our current goal is for him to be able to feed himself and learn how to sit up, eventually transitioning to a wheelchair. Just recently, David achieved a significant milestone: the removal of his feeding tube, allowing him to start eating real food again. Watching him take that first spoonful of mashed potatoes was a poignant reminder of how much we take for granted in our daily lives. It was an incredibly emotional moment, and he was truly in a state of euphoria. Then he got some chocolate pudding...!!!

Since we shared David's situation, so many people have stepped up to offer help—his family, friends, neighbors, previous employer, his entire educational community, and countless others. The personal visits and calls have been invaluable in helping him recover his memories and engage in meaningful conversations. For me, this support has helped keep me focused and reinforced my determination to be David's advocate on this journey. It is a true blessing that we are together and not alone.

The road ahead is long and challenging. With his inability to support himself through his contract business, David currently has no income, and with my own life on hold, I find myself reaching out for help—a step I hesitated to take until friends encouraged me. Knowing that heartfelt moments, like the one captured in the photo (thank you, Michelle!) with his sweet dog Rizzo, give David the encouragement to continue his recovery, and strengthens my commitment to keep moving forward.

As David works to regain as much as possible, each day brings hope and encouragement. I welcome your stories or advice from those who have faced similar challenges. Having taken the helm, I am exploring options for long-term disability care through the VA, SSA, and other avenues that can benefit him moving forward. I am also working with his creditors to help alleviate his monthly obligations, knowing he has no income during this critical time. Any support offered will be put to good use, giving David peace of mind knowing he's meeting his obligations and allowing him to focus 100% on his own recovery.

Your kindness and support mean everything to us as we navigate this journey. From the bottom of our hearts... my heart, thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support for my big brother, David.

Sincerely,

Marc Hedges