Help Support Phil’s Family After His Sudden Passing

On July 14th, Phil’s speech slurred, his balance faltered, and he struggled to swallow. The left side of his body went numb, and his face drooped. During a routine check, his wife stepped out briefly, only to return and find doctors rushing in. They told her Phil had gone into cardiac arrest. They restarted his heart and moved him to the ICU.

Phil’s children rushed to the hospital, devastated to see their once-healthy father sedated, intubated, and fighting for his life.

It was determined Phil had suffered a severe stroke on his brain stem—responsible for critical functions like swallowing, breathing, and clearing the airway. This loss of function led to the cardiac arrest, as he couldn’t clear secretions from his airway. Despite being on the right medications after a mini-stroke weeks earlier, this catastrophic event occurred.

Phil spent several days in the ICU. Though there were small signs of hope—he was able to breathe on his own and communicate with eye blinks—his condition worsened. He could no longer swallow, spit, or cough, and nurses had to constantly suction his airway, causing him great discomfort.

After ten heartbreaking days, we made the painful decision to transition to comfort care, allowing him to pass peacefully, surrounded by family.

Phil’s unexpected passing has left a huge void in our hearts and caused overwhelming financial strain on his family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and generosity during this incredibly difficult time.