Sharrod Mangum, a notable Atlanta pastry chef and a finalist on HBO Max’s 2023 Holiday Baking Championship, is currently on a challenging road to recovery after suffering a severe health crisis earlier this year. The chef, known for his delightful confections and television appearances, experienced a stroke and additional medical complications, including cardiac arrest, asFOX 5 Atlanta reports. Mangum found himself in a coma and battled through a pulmonary embolism, infections, kidney failure, and a traumatic brain injury against remarkable odds.
In March, Mangum’s life took a sudden turn, “I believe I went into cardiac arrest, I had two strokes, and they ended up finding a pulmonary embolism which wound up traveling up to my heart or my lungs, which caused the strokes,” Mangum stated, as recounted byFOX 5 Atlanta. His recovery journey has been arduous, with time spent at Shepherd Center followed by rehabilitation in Texas, where he is staying with his parents. Despite the hardships, he has maintained his passion for baking, pushing through vision loss and the exhaustive healing process by preparing dishes ranging from fresh bread to strawberry cream cheese danishes.
Mangum’s sister, Nekeyta Newkirk, has been instrumental in ensuring her brother has the resources needed to return to his culinary passion. To assist with this, she initiated a GoFundMe campaign. “You have to focus on healing your body and healing your mind, and that does take time. So for him to be in this position where he can’t wake up at 4 in the morning to go knead dough and look out for those next opportunities, I know how stressful that can be,” she toldFOX 5 Atlanta.
The financial toll has been significant, the inability to work coupled with the costs of medical care and daily living expenses have created additional challenges for Mangum. In solidarity, his supporters organized an online fundraiser to mitigate the financial difficulties and afford him stability to concentrate on recovery. “Your love offering, no matter the size, will make a tremendous difference. It will help alleviate the financial strain on Sharrod and provide the stability needed to focus on what matters most- this second chance he’s been BLESSED with,” according to the11Alive Newsstatement associated with the fundraiser.
Mangum’s determination remains unwavering despite the hurdles. He is intent on returning to the craft that not only earned him acclaim but also allowed him to serve up happiness to everyone from prominent figures in Washington DC to his local Atlanta neighbors. For those looking to support Mangum’s ongoing journey towards healing and a professional comeback, donations can be made through the GoFundMe page established in his name.
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