LITH Police Officer Recovering From Brain Surgery

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — Funds have been pouring in for a Lake in the Hills police officer who is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor.

AJ Gazda, who has been with the Lake in the Hills Police Department for 15 years, learned of the brain tumor following a routine visit to the eye doctor, according to a GoFundMe set up to help raise funds for Gazda and his wife, Kara, who is a police officer in Carpentersville.

It will take several months for Gazda to recover from the surgery after he underwent surgery earlier this month. He has since been moved to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, his wife, Kara Burroughs, wrote in a Friday update on the GoFundMe page.

"It’s been a trying time this past week and a half but our Support Squad has made sure we were physically and mentally okay," Burroughs wrote. "AJ is excited to begin rehab so he can get back home to see our pups. He is excited to take this next step because it is a step closer to getting into his squad again and hitting the streets."

Members of the Lake in the Hills Police Department and Carpentersville Police Department helped to organize the GoFundMe, which has brought in more than $18,000.

Gazda started with the Lake in the Hills Police Department 15 years ago. He has worked as a police explorer, a community service officer and in the dispatch center before "finally" achieving his "lifelong dream of police officer."

"We are asking for prayers for his recovery and return to work and for funds to help him and his wife, Kara who is a Police Officer in Carpentersville, during the months-long recovery he now faces until he can return to active duty," according to the GoFundMe. "All donations are deeply appreciated and all donations will be going directly to AJ and Kara."

Those wishing to donate to AJ and Kara can visit the GoFundMe page.