Support John's health recovery and expenses

We are reaching out on behalf of John and Caroline to ask for your help.

As some of you know on November 7th, 2022, John was involved in an accident that left him with shattered ribs on the front and back of his left side, a broken humerus and a ruptured spleen. The ruptured spleen was repaired that night but he would spend the next few nights in the trauma ICU. He was released from the hospital on November 11th, but his health issues were far from over.

On November 28th, 2022 the second round of life threatening medical emergencies began. John collapsed, began vomiting blood and was taken to the ER and they found his hemoglobin was critically low so they started what would be the 1st of over 21 blood transfusions. He was released the next day after but just 4 days later he ended up in yet another ER where again he had critically low hemoglobin levels. He was at that hospital for 3 days but doctors were still unable to find out why he was losing so much blood. On December 8th at 5:00 in the morning, Caroline found John on their living room floor. He was confused and had an extremely low BP so she called 911. Shortly after arriving at the ER it was determined that John had suffered a stroke and once again his hemoglobin was dangerously low, this time dipping down to 6.0 (a normal hemoglobin is between 11 and 13). He was given two blood transfusions that day and night and the next morning his hemoglobin had dropped again to 5.4.Ultimately by only the grace of God, John ended up at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. While the main reason for that transfer was the stroke, the internal bleeding became a greater concern because you can't treat a stroke patient with blood thinners when the patient is continually losing blood. At one point his hemoglobin got as low as 4.3 and Caroline was told by a nurse that at 3.0 you’re in a coma. He arrived at Tulane on December 10th and on December 17th after numerous tests and blood transfusion after blood transfusion, the source of the bleeding was found by an Interventional Radiologist and he went in and stopped it. John was released from Tulane on December 22nd but was only a shell of the man he was before the accident.

The next few months were spent going to physical and occupational therapy and he was able to return to school two weeks before they were out for Summer break. During the summer John did continue to heal and get stronger physically, but he was still suffering the effects of his stroke such as lack of balance, poor memory and the one that hurts him the most is the ability to write and speak like he did before. Most of you know that he received his Masters and PhD from Texas A&M and has even published a book so his inability to eloquently put a simple sentence together and excel at his profession as an English teacher has hurt him more than the physical injuries he sustained from the accident.  

John was able to start the Fall semester at school but was prepared for one class when he was put in another that proved to be a huge test with his cognitive issues. A week into September due to extreme stress his BP got as high as 200/112 and his neurologist told him he could not return to school until it was under control. She then ordered two brain scans to make sure he had not suffered more damage. After the second scan she called Caroline and told her that though the scan didn't show another stroke, it did show evidence that he had a small aneurysm and she instructed him go on disability effective immediately. He was then referred to a neurosurgeon to determine what kind of treatment would be needed next. After visiting the neurosurgeon, John had a procedure done to look at the vessels in the brain so they could get a better look at the aneurysm and during that test, it was found that was there NO aneurysm. THANK YOU LORD.

The problems they are facing now along with his continued cognitive issues are financial. Between Caroline having to take off without pay for more than two months at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 and John's reduced pay, money has been extremely tight. They were extremely blessed by John's late parents and grandparents because they left him annuities that they were able to live off of but they have completely cleaned those out.  To add insult to injury, the man that hit John had a very poor insurance policy so even with hiring an attorney, the money they will receive will not even scratch the surface of his medical bills. John does expect to go back to work this week but his disability pay at work ran out without his knowledge so he didn't get paid for the month of November.

Let's all consider stepping up and helping these two very loving, caring individuals who have historically made it their life's mission to help others when they can.

Every little bit helps. Please consider sharing with your communities as well.