Support James Van Dyke's Road to Recovery

Hello my name is James Van Dyke,

On November 29, 2023 I was on a military contracted ship in the Atlantic Ocean that was underway. I had just woke up when I realized I had a stroke. I then called to the engine room to let them know I would not be turning to for my watch. Then I called the captain and explained the fact I believe I had a stroke and with in minutes there was the mate and others at my door. It didn't take long for them to come to the realization it was a stroke. The captain acted fast and a few hours later there was a helicopter hovering over the vessel. They dropped me a zip line and I was taken up into the helicopter. I was taken to a airport in Spain. As soon as we taxied in to the airport we was met by a ambulance and my passport was stamped and I was taken to a hospital. I was alone and I only know a handful of words in Spanish. This was a very difficult time for me. I woke up in the hospital later paralyzed on my right side. This was devastating and I cried alot during my time in spain. I was totally alone and paralyzed. It took approximately 2 weeks for them to arrange for me to be brought home. When I arrived home it took them a few days for them to schedule me for Brooks rehabilitation. I spent several days home alone. This was so difficult and very dark days for me. I had to go through all this alone. My mom, past away last year and my father died when I was 12 years old. My siblings are older and far away. My wife, is in brazil and her visa has yet to be processed. It's sad, I have been told 2500 people cross the boarder every day. My wife is not here because of the time it takes in the visa process and here I am paralyzed and alone.

As a merchant mariner I have given alot of my life to military or USNS VESSELS. Working in the engine room I have played a vital roll on board many vessels and i have been asked to stay longer by the captain/military. During the outbreak of COVID-19 I was on a military contracted vessel and I was asked to stay after my 6 months of deployment. I stayed 9 months in total. My first ship was the USNS Lynch and I stayed 9 months when the normal rotation is 120 days on most ships. I know I am getting off the topic but I feel it's important to understand my patriotism to this country. In fact in the early 90s I spent 15 months on the Sealift Artic a tanker for military carrying jet fuel and in 2003 I played a vital roll in " enduring freedom".

Sorry, I got so far off track. Well, on a Saturday in December of 2003 they transported me to Brooks Rehabilitation center. I spent a few months in a hospital room alone with no one to help me or visit me. I hated my phone my speech was off because of the stroke and holding my phone texting one handed is so difficult for me. I thus focused on my Rehabilitation and it took a long time but I learned to ballance and walk with a cane and my fingers on my right hand started to move. After months of inpatient care, I was moved to a brooks outpatient day treatment center while staying in a books Helens House, much like a Ronald Mcdonald house. I stayed over 90 days in a brain injury treatment rehabilitation program with speech, occupational, physical therapy and more. On May 3rd was my last day there and again i was back at home and alone. They set me up with more occupational and physical therapy because I still have ballance and walking issues and my arm moves slowly and it's in constant pain. Everyday now is a struggle just to get showered, dressed and make breakfast. What used be a 30 minutes in the morning ,now takes me a 2 hours to do. I don't know when I will be physically able to work and I have been out of work sense November 29 and my checking account doesn't even have enough money in it to pay my cellphone bill. If my wife was here she would work and help me pay the bills and look after me. I hate to ask, but I need help. I don't know how much longer my rehabilitation will take but i can't just give up. I really need help. Please send what ever you can. Every dollar will help. If you don't have anything to give I understand but please pass this link on to your friends and family members. Also I set my goal as 30,000$ because I figure this will pay all my bills for a year. This will give me a year to focus on my Rehabilitation and not be worried about bills. I realized I will be on a fixed income but it's ok. Right now I have no income. I find it sad that as a merchant mariner with a injury at sea we are not paid workman's comp like everyone else in this country. We do so much for our country and yet we not entitled to workman's comp. We move all the military special cargo, jet fuel, helicopters, tanks, humvees and comercial fuel, heating fuel cas,consumer products, even high dollar plasma. We are responsible for a lot and I have over 30 years experience. I feel we should at least get workman's comp. Please pray for me and share my go fund me page.