On October 8, 2015 Chris Cade, a comics collector known throughout the industry, had a malignant Ischemic stroke. Cade is only 53 years old, so the stroke – which usually happens to people in their 80s – was quite a shock. Doctors and nurses at Mercy San Juan Hospital worked to save him by removing the blockage and controlling bleeding in his brain. The next morning his brain swelled, leading to a right skull flap removal surgery.

Cade then spent two weeks in the ICU at Mercy San Juan slowly improving, speaking, and expressing himself through his hands. He was then moved to the Kaiser Rehab Hospital in Vallejo, California where he has been improving and learning adaptive life skills.

Cade’s family created a Go Fund Me page for his care. They are hoping to raise $10,000 to help pay for equipment and other medical needs while he goes through this difficult time. You can make donations and learn more about Cade’s situation at gofundme.com.

“I’ve been friends with Chris Cade since our earliest days working for the Comics & Comix chain in Northern California in the ’80s. We’ve shared a common love and appreciation for comics, movies, gaming and other such nerdy pursuits ever since. And although we live on opposite sides of the country now, we always look forward to our annual trip to Comic-Con in San Diego, where we can nerd out for a week or so and hang out like the old days,” PREVIEWS Manager Marty Grosser said. “This guy is like a brother to me, and he truly is one of my favorite people on Earth. Which is why I was so devastated to learn about his stroke in early October. I feared the worst, but Chris is a fighter at heart, so he has continued to improve, and can and will come back from this…and we’ll nerd out at Comic-Con again when he’s ready. Chris has touched a lot of lives in the comics field over the years, and he has plenty of friends who love him. For those of you who know Chris – and even those of you who don’t, I hope you can lend him your support in his time of need.”