Families Rally To Help 'Amazing' D117 Teacher Impacted By Stroke

PALOS HILLS, IL — Michael Rafferty was the teacher that every student prayed to get and parents begged to have their children placed in his fifth-grade class. To his colleagues at Oak Ridge School in Palos Hills, Rafferty was THE teacher.

On Sept. 6, 2020, Rafferty suffered a hemorrhagic stroke that left him paralyzed on the entire right side of his body. He has undergone three brain surgeries in the past year and feels lucky to be alive. The massive stroke also left Rafferty with the heartbreaking condition of Aphasia. Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech caused by brain damage.

>>> Let's Fight For Mike GoFundMe

Insurance has stopped paying for Rafferty’s physical and speech therapy. All therapy is paid for now out of Rafferty and wife Lindsay’s pocket from his disability check, which is 40 percent of his paycheck.

“As everyone knows, Michael was always known for his quick wit and ability to turn a phrase. Unfortunately, Aphasia has robbed this from him and has been devastating for him and his loved ones. Imagine not being able to understand what your loved ones are saying. Or, when you do understand, you cannot respond because you are unable to find the words. This is what Mike and his family are dealing with every day.”

Bill DeWitt is helping Lindsay Rafferty organize a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds, so that Rafferty can continue with the therapy he so urgently needs.

“Mike is working hard daily to regain his speech, but the progress has been slow. All the money raised will go to help Mike with his fight to regain some normalcy in life,” organizers said.

The online campaign has raised $21,000 toward a financial goal of $40,000. To learn more about teacher Michael Rafferty and to make a donation, visit “Let’s Fight For Mike” on GoFundMe.