Kashyap “Kash” Saraiya wasn’t expected to survive the massive stroke, triggered by a ruptured brain aneurysm, that felled him in his driveway in Edison in January of 2018.
“Doctors told my wife I would pass away in 15 minutes unless I had brain surgery, and even then I could be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life,” says Kash. “And here I am, in 2025, fully functional! I’m very thankful to the doctors, nurses and staff at JFK University Medical Center and JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute for bringing me through.”
After life-saving surgery, Kash spent months in recovery and then inpatient and outpatient therapy at Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. He recently committed $250,000 to the Institute to express gratitude for the care he received.
The crucial funds will be used to buy state-of-the-art equipment for the medical and rehabilitation center, which marked its 50th anniversary last year.
“Mr. Saraiya and his family's generous giving will provide our clinicians with the necessary tools to help our patients recover faster, reduce and improve pain management and enhance their quality of life,” says Anthony Cuzzola, vice president and administrator at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. “This donation will help us keep pace in providing cutting-edge rehabilitation technology to ensure our patients have access to the best treatments and outcomes possible.”
The 94-bed Institute in Edison offers the state’s most comprehensive rehabilitation services, providing an array of inpatient and outpatient resources ranging from emergency care to physical, occupational and psychological therapy.
Kash was 55 when he suffered the stroke as he was leaving home for the train station. He was well acquainted with the first responders since he was a longtime auxiliary police chief in Edison. But he has little recollection of the stroke and days immediately following in intensive care.
He credits those first responders, his family, surgeon Jawad Kirmani, M.D. and countless professionals at JFK who provided critical and therapeutic care. “It took a village. I wouldn’t be around if these wonderful people hadn’t been there for me,” says Kash.
Kash returned to JFK in 2020 for treatment and therapy for complex regional pain syndrome in his hand. Despite the medical traumas, Kash remains upbeat. He works full-time and is grateful to be able to spend time with his wife, Monica, and sons, Rohit and Rahul.
We thank Kash for his generous gift and know it will go far in providing state-of-the-art care for our patients in the future! To learn more about how you can make a gift to JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, visit GiveHMH.org/JFKJRI or contact Greg Jones, director of Development, at gregory.jones@hmhn.org.
17-Year-Old Benefits From Tackle Kids Cancer Initiative After Leukemia Treatment
17-year-old Erik Viscito and his family benefit from many corporate partners and donors that generously donate to Tackle Kids Cancer, a philanthropic initiative of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation that raises money for pediatric cancer research and patient care programs at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health Children’s Cancer Institute.
Investing in the Future of Medical Education: Hackensack Meridian Health Physicians Create $100,000 Scholarship
Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., and Yukiko Kimura, M.D., share a vision of holistic health and medicine that distinguishes the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, and have generously donated $100,000 to create a student scholarship at the school, where Dr. Boscamp serves as dean.
Miles of Hope: 120 Miles and $10,000 Raised in Support of Behavioral Health
Chris Sammarco of Point Pleasant runs ten miles before most of us have a first cup of
coffee, jogging at the shore near his home at daybreak at least three times a week.
The miles add up, and in May he sought donations for behavioral health programs at
Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, where he sits on the the Board of
Trustees at Raritan Bay Medical Center Foundation.
Family Honors Daughter’s Legacy With Gift to Children’s Hospital
Through the Megan Schulman Pediatric Vascular Anomalies Clinic, the Schulman family is honoring their daughter’s legacy and spirit of giving.