The Pastuszynski family resides in Alden, NY. In May of 2020, Dad, Rick was hospitalized after experiencing debilitating abdominal pain. He was being treated aggressively for an abdominal infection that unfortunately continued to worsen. The morning of Memorial Day 2020 he was rushed to surgery after suffering an abdominal evisceration (abdominal contents came through his skin) and a Sepsis emergency. Ricks wife, Jo received a call from the Surgeon reiterating the complexity of the surgery needed and poor percentage rate of his survival.  Nearly 9 hours later, Jo received the call that he made it out of surgery and was currently vent-dependent in the ICU. 

Rick eventually came home with a very complex and large open abdominal surgical wound that has been treated for the past year and a half with additional hospital visits and surgeries, outpatient wound clinic visits and Nursing & Wound PT homecare services multiple times a week. He has very little abdominal muscle,  extreme abdominal pain and relies on a binder brace for support. Rick was a Seafood Manager at his local TOPS grocery store and lost his job due to his lengthy recovery and physical disabilities. He has recently been referred to the Cleveland Clinic, UPMC or Rochester for further follow-up for his abdominal reconstructive  needs.

Unfortunately, he had to put that on hold as more recently, his wife Jo began to experience physical and neurological symptoms including an Anaphylaxis episode that hospitalized her.  She underwent Spinal Neurosurgery just weeks before Christmas and has a lengthy recovery ahead herself.  She has been the family's primary caretaker but now finds herself out of work as well. Jo is a Nurse for Catholic Health MSHC. 

Rick and Jo have been together for 20+ years, since High School! Together they share two beautiful children, Theodore(12) and Belle(9). (As well as 2 Basset Hounds, 3 rescued cats and Fish)! Theodore is Autistic and the strains of the past 2 years have been difficult for him especially, but with the support from Summit and his team at Alden Middle School- he has been accomplishing great milestones! Belle has been a blessing of help at home and is the families biggest cheerleader- figuratively and literally!

With both parents out of work, The Pastuszynski family would benefit from your help by using it towards past/current/future medical bills and needs as well as living expenses. Please consider a shirt purchase or donation to their online fundraiser.