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Help Alex Heal

Help Alex heal! This fundraiser is to help Alexander Diacopoulos on his road to recovery. I’m Christina Melendez, Alex’s life partner and now full-time caregiver. Alex was the victim of a hit-and-run assault. We hope to raise money to help cover uninsured medical bills, basic living needs, and ongoing medical treatment for his chronic mental and physical conditions.
     Alex is a 26 year old Virginia Beach local. He went to Bayside High School Health Sciences Academy where he played varsity and club soccer, before graduating from Randolph Macon College with a Bachelor’s degree. While attending school, Alex began work as a bartender. He was infatuated with flavors, food, spirits, and pairings. He quickly became a hidden treasure of the 757 restaurant industry. He had recently earned the title of General Manager at the Mermaid Winery in Norfolk, when a tragic accident changed his life forever. 

    On June 28th, after a night of work at the winery, Alex was driving home on Llewellyn Avenue when his vehicle was struck by another driver. The driver was speeding and ignoring traffic signals. The impact caused Alex’s vehicle to collide with two more roadside structures before landing in someone’s yard. Alex was rendered unconscious upon impact, while the other driver fled the scene in a different, unknown vehicle. It’s difficult to think about how a stranger’s criminal neglect has dramatically changed Alex’s life, but we are forever grateful to the good people who came to Alex’s aid and called emergency services. 
     An ambulance transported Alex to Norfolk General Hospital ICU. He sustained several severe injuries including hemorrhaging on the right side of his brain and multiple fractures in his face, shoulder, and pelvis. Alex spent 7 days in the Neuro ICU. It was touch and go for the first few weeks: unstable brain bleeding, potential abnormal masses, facial surgery, neurostorming, and the risk of Covid-19 were just some of the obstacles Alex had to overcome. From head to toe, the left side of his body was unresponsive, even to the most painful of stimuli. We didn’t know if his personality would be different, how his cognitive function would be impacted- if he would be able to talk, walk, or even breathe on his own, ever again. What we did know was scary- that his diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a chronic condition that he would live with for the rest of his life. 
     After 45 days spent between 3 different hospital wings,  Alex began to show great improvements. While he wasn’t able to talk, he began writing to communicate. We were so relieved to see that the Alex we know and love was still there, and that he wanted to work hard on getting better! (Fun fact: the first sentence he wrote was “yo tengo farts!”) Alex relearned how to breathe and eat on his own, and had even began to rehab his left leg, arm, and facial muscles. He began mouthing and whispering words til he regained strength and function of his vocal chords. Alex was finally discharged and it was time to transfer to an inpatient center. Doctors estimated a minimum of 2 years of rehabilitation. However, because of lack of health insurance, inpatient rehab centers denied him entrance. But Alex is a fighter, and he was not deterred. He began outpatient therapy as soon as he was accepted, at the Sentara Brock Cancer Therapy Center. 


     Alex is still fighting hard. Despite all of the challenges we face everyday, Alex still rehabs 5 times a week, up to 3 sessions a day. He participates in speech, physical,  and occupational therapy. Even if its just him and a family member rehabbing at home, Alex gives 1000% every time. We hope to raise money to help pay for this ongoing medical care. Alex is now finally insured, but unfortunately the insurance refuses to pay for his first month in the hospital. We are hoping to raise money to also help cover the almost $200,000 in uninsured hospital care. 
     Alex’s recovery will be long, but there is no question he will do everything in his power to heal. Alex’s goals are to recover from broken bones, regain strength and function of his left arm/leg/face, and successfully cope with memory and cognitive deficits. We hope you can share his story and donate to his cause. We are thankful to everyone who is helping Alex heal! Much love sent to all.❤️

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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $200 
    • 2 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 4 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $90 
    • 6 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 6 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $80 
    • 8 mos
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Fundraising team: Alex’s Support (4)

Jade Kalmus
Organizer
Raised $750 from 15 donations
Virginia Beach, VA
Regina Diacopoulos
Beneficiary
Christina Melendez
Team member
Raised $3,465 from 43 donations
Theodore Diacopoulos
Team member
Raised $992 from 17 donations
MARK DIACOPOULOS
Team member
Raised $700 from 8 donations
This team raised $20,288 from 308 other donations.

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