Ernest D. Levert Jr and Family Rehabilitation Fundraising Project
On April 3, 2024, our son, Ernest David Levert Jr, suffered a ruptured berry aneurysm which caused severe bleeding into the brain. Fortunately, a kind passer-by summoned an ambulance and Ernest was taken to the hospital. He subsequently underwent multiple procedures and surgeries to sustain his life, including relief of increased brain pressure and aneurysm repair. Since his initial one month stay in a Neurological ICU in Columbus, OH, he has had several medical complications that have delayed his rehabilitation and recovery. With the assistance of several medical personnel, he was accepted to the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (SRAL) in Chicago, to which he was flown in late May 2024. This facility has exceptional rehabilitation teams who provide occupational, physical, speech therapy, psychologic, dietary and social work support to help individuals transition to a home setting after strokes, brain trauma or other debilitating neurologic events. He continued to experience medical issues and was admitted to Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago. Those problems are being addressed and we anticipate his return to SRAL soon. The road to recovery and restoration is long. It is emotionally, mentally, physically and financially taxing for Ernest Jr and his family. Our family appreciates the prayers, words of encouragement and other forms of support we have received. We now ask for your financial assistance to provide for his inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative needs and renovation of his home to accommodate his new lifestyle both in the short and long term. Some of these needs include installation of a wheelchair ramp for access into the home, conversion of the garage into a bedroom large enough to house a hospital bed, a patient lift and other medical equipment, an area for a care provider, and a bathroom with an ADA approved accessible shower.
In addition, Ernest Jr’s family will incur food, housing and travel expenses while in Chicago and medical bills for treatment not covered by insurance for both hospital and rehabilitation. Insurance and disability income have their limitations and will not be adequate to ensure that Ernest Jr has access to personal in-home care, or out-patient transport to rehabilitation services. He may require prolonged speech, occupational, physical and psychologic services that extend beyond those covered by insurance. We have estimated that over the next 1-2 years term these therapies, renovation projects, family expenses, along with the shortfall in disability income could result in out-of-pocket expenses to his family of at least $200,000. In response, this GoFundMe site has been created to help with these expenses. Through all of these medical events, Ernest Jr has proven to be a fighter and we fully understand that his road to recovery will not be easy, but a long one. He has shown great mental determination, which has yielded tremendous progress to date. With your help, Ernest Jr will reach his full potential within the shortest possible time period.
With tremendous joy, Zenith Ernest Caleb Levert, their son was born at home on May 6, 2024, to Ernest Jr and Ivory, and their 2 ½ year-old daughter, Zamya.
Thank you for all your love and ongoing support for our son.
Ernest Sr and Rhonda Levert
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Links for you to get to know Ernest D. Levert Jr.
Ernest Levert Jr, the Founding Director and Executive Director of The Royal Oak Initiative (ROI), has been playing chess since the 4th grade. Chess has provided him with a platform to connect with mentors, make new friends, explore different 3cultures, and empower his self-actualization. He hopes to share his experiences, expertise, and enthusiasm for the game of chess with youth and the young at heart from all walks of life.
Ernest's vision has cultivated an organization marked by dedicated coaches who passionately support the youth across Columbus and its vicinity. The recent events have touched us profoundly, impacting both our professional duties and personal lives, particularly for our board members closely connected to Ernest. Yet, the circumstances demand that we proceed with resilience and adaptability, honoring the foundation Ernest laid.
The Royal Oak Initiative Home Page
City Pulse Interview:
https://citypulsecolumbus.com/next-up-columbus-2022-ernest-levert-jr/
Historian Rita Fuller-Yates sits with Ernest Levert Jr. for the 20twenty200 Project
Historian Rita Fuller-Yates sits with Ernest Levert Jr. for the 20twenty200 Project (youtube.com)
NBC4 Columbus, Ohio: Community Mentor in Coma following Brain Aneurysm:
Read Favorite Memories with Ernest Jr.
