My name is Tara Teel. On October 21, 2025, my husband Dan (68), a U.S. Air Force veteran (1976–1980), suffered a large left-hemisphere hemorrhagic stroke. It has been an incredibly difficult journey since then.

Dan now lives with global aphasia (severe difficulty speaking and communicating), right-side hemiparesis, and requires maximum assistance with nearly all daily activities — showering, toileting, transfers, dressing, and constant supervision. He has made some progress with therapy: he can eat with a spoon if the food is cut into bite-sized pieces, and he can walk short distances with a rollator and my help. However, he still needs full-time caregiving support.

I quit my full-time job in December 2025 to care for him 24/7. We have no family nearby who can provide regular help. I am his primary — and often only — caregiver. I have tried to find other work, but it has not been realistic due to the constant care Dan requires. We recently received plenary guardianship, completed the Medicaid spend-down, and are now waiting for the May 22 CARES screening. Passing that screening will only get him onto the waitlist for the long-term care program. We are still many months away from approval for the CDC+ program so I can be paid as his official caregiver.

We are currently in a difficult financial gap.

Some of our household bills are currently lower due to pre-payments (Duke Energy and car insurance), but medical bills have been piling up, along with unpaid legal fees from the guardianship process. As he served in peacetime and the stroke was not service-related, there is no help from the VA. We have already borrowed from our HELOC for necessary dental work and are stretching every dollar as carefully as possible.

We are asking for help to get through this waiting period so I can focus on Dan’s recovery instead of constantly worrying about bills.

How the $15,000 will be used (estimated 4–6 month bridge):

1. Groceries & Household Essentials: $4,200 (food for us + our two dogs)
2. Gas & Transportation: $1,800 (medical appointments & therapy)
3. Medications & Medical Bills: $3,500 (Dan’s prescriptions + accumulating medical costs)
4. Home Safety & Modifications: $1,500 (ongoing needs)
5. Utilities & Basic Bills: $2,000 (some already pre-paid)
6. Legal & Unexpected Costs: $2,000 (unpaid lawyer fees + buffer)
7. Total: $15,000

Any amount helps — even $10 or $25 makes a real difference. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this campaign. Your support means more than you know as we navigate this challenging time.

Thank you for reading our story.

Tara & Dan