“I grew up with a really bad father. So I wanted to be a better man than him,” he told us. “I did all I could to live a better life than he did.”

Growing up in a household shadowed by conflict and instability, Chris witnessed firsthand the destructive impact of his dad’s life. It was a legacy that could have easily ensnared him, a cycle of despair and hardship that seemed almost predestined.

But instead of succumbing to the weight of it all, Chris chose a different path. The shadows of his father’s struggles became the catalyst for his determination to break free from the cycle. He resolved to become the antithesis of the man he had known. He was going to be a better man.

Chris’s commitment to that idea manifested in many forms. As a first responder, he dedicated himself to serving others, embracing a role that demanded courage, empathy, and resilience.

“My grandfather was the Chief of Police, so I spent a lot of my life around police and fire departments,” Chris explained.

Chris worked for many years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. “What I liked most about it was helping people. I enjoyed being able to help others, being part of search and rescue, and doing what I could for strangers.

“I have to be honest that I liked the adrenaline rush, too.”

That feeling carried over into his construction business, which he started a few years later. “I found a similar adrenaline rush when I was working the excavator,” he said with a laugh.

Then came 2009.

“We were driving back to our house, and my wife at the time ended up looking over at me and saw that my left side was drooping down,” Chris told us. “She knew immediately what it was. The medical team came out, pulled me out of the truck and laid me on the gurney, and off we went. I knew what was going on, too. I just didn’t know how long it would take me to get better.”

Chris had suffered a massive stroke, and he would endure nearly six months worth of rehab. He learned to walk again (with a cane), he lost his saliva, ability to swallow and his gag reflex. He was stuttering and struggled to speak, but with the help of a speech therapist, he regained most of his speech back. 

Chris also felt little to no pain for awhile as a result of his stroke, and injured his shoulder, which required a surgery. 

It was a long road that completely caught him off guard.

“I’ve been through a lot,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’m writing a book about my experiences that’s called, I Survived the Man Who Met Her on the Mountain.”

When we asked him about that title, Chris explained part of his father’s story he had alluded to earlier. Without going into deeply personal family history, Chris’s dad was part of an investigative novel titled, Met Her on the Mountain: The Murder of Nancy Morgan.

Written by a former Los Angeles Times staff writer named Mark Pinsky, the book is about Pinsky’s 40-year quest to solve the cold-case murder of Nancy Morgan, and Chris’s father’s potential involvement.

It’s a big reason why he’s so adamant about living a better life and giving back in service to others, which he’s stayed committed to despite the debilitating impact of his stroke.

It wasn’t the last life-changing moment he would face.

Chris’s journey took another pivotal turn in 2013 when Huntington’s disease entered his life. The diagnosis was not just a personal struggle but a battle with a condition that had also touched his family. (Chris’s daughter was also diagnosed.)

Huntington’s disease is a rare and devastating brain disorder. It’s been described as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease combined, and is progressive, debilitating, and incurable – at least currently.

Chris’s participation in an 18-month clinical trial at Wake Forest was a determined effort to change that reality. It was both a personal quest and a mission to aid others. “I wanted to help not just myself but my daughter and others who face this relentless disease,” he said.

The trial offered glimpses of hope—improvements in his walking and balance that, while temporary, were profound. Unfortunately, the drug has not been FDA-approved yet, and Chris no longer receives the medication.

For Chris and his family, this was not just a medical endeavor; it was a continuation of his life’s mantra to be a better man. Each step in the trial was a step towards making a positive impact. If not for him, for someone else. 

As his condition has progressed, so have his needs for support. 

“I have been classified as terminal by my neurologist,” Chris quietly told us. “My prognosis is death. I have accessed all the medications and maximum doses that I can be on. Without a cure or new treatment, I will die from something related to Huntington disease.”

But he’s here today. And he needs our help.

Chris requires the use of a wheelchair, and his current home is not adaptive. Some of his home has exposed subflooring, and Chris worries about falling through it. His entry doors and interior doors are too narrow to accommodate the space of his wheelchair, so he’s limited to a rear-entry exit near the kitchen. But he’s not asking for help with any of that.

Chris’s most pressing need is an adaptive bathroom, including an accessible shower and tub, and new toilet, flooring and drywall. He simply wants to maintain some of his independence. Like Chris, there are good people to be found everywhere you look. One of them was an angel donor who took one look at Chris’s story and said, “I’ll give you whatever you need to help him.” While they wished to stay anonymous, the generosity of their gift and overwhelming kindness deserve to be shared. Thanks to that good person, Chive Charities was able to fully fund the cost of the renovation for a total impact of $30,000. 

We’ll share an update with the completed project soon.

In every aspect of his life, Chris embodies his mantra of becoming a better man. His resilience in the face of Huntington’s disease, his dedication to serving others as a first responder, and his commitment to building a meaningful legacy all reflect this guiding principle.

His journey, marked by a commitment to becoming a better man, continues to inspire those around him. It inspires all of us. 

Whatever the future holds for Chris, we know he’ll face it with the same strength and determination he’s carried throughout his life. And along the way, he’ll remind us what it means to be better. DONATE HERE.

P.S. If you’re interested in supporting a Chive Charities recipient as an angel donor, please CLICK HERE. Good people helping good people.