Andrea and I were married on June 21st, 2003 in our hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Just two years later, Andrea gave birth to our son Patrick, and I had never been happier. Andrea was a stay-at-home mother whose commitment to ensuring Patrick's happiness was only overshadowed by her love for him. The bond they shared was truly extraordinary. Andrea dedicated herself to raising Patrick into the intelligent, kind and happy young boy his friends and family see today. Andrea's world revolved around him and Patrick's around her. I was a very fortunate man, and could have never imagined the tragedy that would completely redefine our lives years later.

On March 30th, 2015 Andrea was rushed to a local emergency room after the onset of multiple medical abnormalities. Her condition rapidly worsened and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. She would eventually slip into a coma and never wake-up the same again. Andrea suffered a severe hypoxic brain injury that required her to be hospitalized for 14 months. She was only 33 years old.

I want nothing more than to be able to say that the time since have been filled with miraculous leaps forward that culminated into an ending worthy of a Lifetime television event, but unfortunately that is not the case.

Andrea lost her ability to see (cortical blindness), speak (expressive aphasia), and navigate even familiar environments (topographical disorientation). Andrea's ability to concentrate and solve problems (including simple math) were greatly diminished. She has great difficulty remembering names and cannot remember (or fully understand) dates or times. Andrea now requires a gamut of medications to prevent seizures that have the unfortunate side-effects of further diminishing her already limited cognitive functioning. She is unable to care for herself and will require a guardian for the remainder of her life.

Instead of the Lifetime television event, we would endure a Shakespearean Tragedy, filled with deceit, manipulation, and villainy.

You can read our story here.