In October, 2019, active duty Navy Chief Petty Officer Nick went in for a spinal steroid injection in his lower back and immediately lost function and feeling of his legs and feet. He started having seizure-like spasms that lasted up to six hours. After several days in ICU, he was transferred to another hospital, but he was unable to get relief from his symptoms. Nick was then transferred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, where his long journey to recovery began. His wife, who had accompanied him to Chicago with their 4 year old daughter, lost her job in their former hometown. Without family or friends in Chicago, the family was referred to SALUTE, INC., who came to their aid, both financially and emotionally. Volunteers visited the family at the hospital with gift cards for food and necessities, while rent and car payments were made to relieve some of the financial stress of the situation.
After several months in a wheelchair, Nick regained the strength in his legs and began to walk. He is progressing daily and no longer needs leg braces. A Navy officer with over 13 years of service, Nick’s perseverance is evident in his determination to work with his doctors to achieve full recovery.
” We are so grateful for the team at SALUTE, INC. and thankful for every angel who has donated. SALUTE saved us during this scary medical emergency and changed our lives for the better. We can’t thank them enough and we promise to pay it forward to help others. It still brings tears to our eyes thinking about how caring and generous they are to strangers in need. They are now our family and we will forever support the mission of SALUTE!”
Chief Petty Officer Nick