Bonnie Leigh feared the worse on Sept. 7 when her husband phoned her from work complaining of a bad headache.
Knowing that Jim had suffered from brain issues in the past, she urged him to go to the emergency room.
He did, and it was soon discovered that he had water on the brain and he was sent to a Cleveland hospital. Five surgeries later, followed by a stint at rehab, Jim Leigh is finally back home, but his recovery process is still continuing.
"He had bleeding while they were doing the surgeries, or before, and it left him with his left side really weak. His left vision is impaired and he has severe short term memory loss," Bonnie Leigh said.
Bonnie, a part-time worker at Wal-Mart, is struggling to pay the monthly medical bills and the COBRA health care payment.
Jim Leigh, a lifelong Warren resident and 30-year employee at ValleyCare Health Systems Trumbull Memorial Hospital is still unable to work, but his friends and co-workers said they want to try and make his life a little bit easier.
Leigh's co-workers and friends are organizing a spaghetti dinner at Quinlan's from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday and are asking the community to come out and show their support.
Donations also can be made at any First Place Bank.
Bonnie said she is extremely thankful for the help they have received from many, including Warren Councilman Bob Dean and Youngstown Comfort Keepers. Comfort Keepers officials heard of Jim's health problems and are offering to help out with home health care while Bonnie works.
"Jim had a big heart as well. I mean that is one of the reasons so many people know him and want to help out because he has a big heart and helped a lot of folks," said co-worker Al Croft.
