Neighbor News
Immediate Help Needed for Thor to Heal
To secure bed in acute medical rehabilitation unit Thor needs three-plus months' housing, transportation, food, phone & respite care
Thor Catterli (known to many by his stage name, Thor Rienow) is a familiar face around Malibu. His big heart, quiet demeanor, and wry humor endear him to those he meets.
On February 27, Thor suffered a seizure at Pavilion's market in Western Malibu as the result of an unidentified virus. He was rushed by ambulance to Los Robles Medical Center where he remained in an induced coma for a week. After 21/2 weeks in ICU, he's now in a regular room attended by his mother, who flew in from Germany to be by his side every day, all day. Friends have navigated the insurance system, raised money for his mother's initial needs, and arranged for her lodging, meals and daily transportation to the hospital.
Thor has made remarkable progress with his sense of humor and adventure intact. He's physically strong, but will need extensive rehabilitation to recover from several small strokes induced by the seizure. He ate his first solid meal yesterday and is ready to be transferred to Los Robles' (UCLA) acute rehabilitation unit for 10 - 14 days of speech, occupational and physical therapy. BUT, to gain admission, he must have a three-plus month housing plan with round-the-clock supervision arranged, paid for, and approved. And this has to happen in the next several days.
If we can't come up with an acceptable discharge plan, Thor will be placed in a County-run facility, likely far from the support of friends and home. The most economical and emotionally secure answer is for his mother to remain with him for the immediate future to supervise his care and get him to follow-up appointments. Initially, friends raised about $2,000 to help his mother get to this country from Germany. A gofundme account has been set up for his immediate needs and discharge plan at gofundme.com/tmvf7k9c
To date, more than $2,900 has been received of the estimated $50,000 needed. Please donate to help pay for a small furnished apartment near the hospital, food, transportation, phone and occasional respite care for Thor and his mother for the three-plus months following his discharge.
Thank you from the bottoms of a whole lot of hearts.
