Anniversary Trip Illness: Romeoville Man Needs Help Getting Home

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Russell and Susan Kunes were celebrating 40 years of marriage with an anniversary trip when Russell became ill board a cruise ship. Now, friends and family are working to raise money to bring him back to Romeoville — an expensive trek expected to cost $20,000.

It's been more than a month since Russell and his wife, retired Valley View educator and A. Vito Martinez Assistant Principal Susan, had to leave their cruise after he became ill with an infection related to bacteria pneumonia, according to a GoFundMe page created by Susan's sister.

"He was removed from the ship June 7th in the middle of the night and airlifted from Kauai to a Honolulu hospital where he is at now," sister-in-law Linda Harris wrote. "His recovery has been difficult with many setbacks."

Family and friends are hoping to help Russell get back home to Illinois. While he has health insurance, the costs of caring for him in Hawaii are extensive and the cost of continuing care may be unmanageable, Harris wrote.

Once Russell is stable enough to travel, the family hopes to bring him back home, a trip that will require two nurses to escort him and will need to be paid in full before he is able to leave.

A GoFundMe campaign with a $10,000 goal was launched last week. As of Monday, more than $8,700 had been raised so far.

You can click here to make a donation.

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.

Photo of Susan and Russell Kunes via GoFundMe