Help Antoine Heal: Support a Father’s Fight for Life and Mobility
On October 10, 2023, Antoinne’s life — and the lives of everyone who loves him — changed forever.
While riding his bicycle, Antoine suffered a massive heart attack and stroke triggered by complications from sarcoidosis — a chronic illness he had been battling in both his lungs and heart. He was wearing a heart monitor that day, which later helped doctors determine how long he had been without oxygen: long enough to cause a devastating anoxic brain injury.
It happened on the first birthday of his youngest son, Ronald.
What should’ve been a joyful milestone turned into a nightmare — and the beginning of a fight no family should have to face alone.
Antoine has been in the hospital ever since.
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️ The First Year: A Fight for Survival
For the first three months, doctors placed Antoine in a medically induced coma to cool his body and slow brain damage. The hope was to preserve what function remained and give him a fighting chance.
At six months, he began to show glimmers of progress — blinking, tracking movement with his eyes, and slowly beginning to recognize loved ones. At that point, he couldn’t speak, sit up, or respond to much. He was essentially immobile — a shell of the vibrant man his family once knew.
By the one-year mark, he was able to follow basic commands. He allowed grooming like shaving and brushing his teeth. He recognized his kids, his fiancée (my sister), and began responding to touch and familiar voices. It was a miracle — but still, no speech, and limited movement.
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Today: Complex Needs, Painful Setbacks
Antoine’s condition remains fragile and urgent.
He is currently battling:
A collapsed lung
Pneumonia with pseudomonas (a serious lung infection)
Severe emphysema and scarred lung tissue from the sarcoidosis
A UTI
Six infected teeth causing jaw inflammation and pain
Contracted limbs that now require intensive physical therapy
He also suffers from pressure sores, and ongoing complications that make everyday life — even laying comfortably — a challenge.
The therapies he needs to maintain and improve mobility, reduce pain, and regain function are not covered by insurance. Only the bare minimum is paid for, leaving the rest to fall on his family — emotionally and financially.
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My Sister’s Strength: A Caregiver, Mother, and Fighter
My sister has taken on every aspect of Antoine’s care while raising their two young children — ages 2 and 5. She gets around Philadelphia using trains, buses, and trolleys daily to be by his side. She helps feed him, clean him, stretch his limbs, and advocate for his care.
She’s his voice. His strength. His everything.
But she cannot do it alone.
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Why Your Support Matters
Antoine’s road to healing is long and uncertain — but not hopeless. He’s shown resilience, and with the right care, there’s still potential for recovery. Unfortunately, that care costs more than his family can manage on their own.
Your donation will help with:
Advanced therapy for his arms and legs
Medical transport and equipment not covered by insurance
Emergency dental care and treatment for infections
Basic needs for the kids in the absence of Antoine’s income
Daily costs of navigating this overwhelming journey
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❤️ Every Dollar Helps
If you’ve ever watched someone you love suffer and felt powerless — please know you can help.
Even $5 can go toward a meal, a bus ride, or medication. Even a share can bring us closer to the help Antoine needs and the support my sister deserves.
Let’s show this family they’re not alone.
Help us fight for Antoine — because he’s still fighting for them.
