Stroke Survivor’s Gift Helps JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute Stay on the Cutting Edge
April 16, 2025
Kashyap “Kash” Saraiya wasn’t expected to survive the massive stroke that hit him in his driveway in January 2018.
“Doctors told my wife I would pass away in 15 minutes unless I had brain surgery,” says Kash. “Even then, I could be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life. Yet here I am in 2025, fully functional!”
After life-saving surgery, the Edison resident spent months in recovery and then inpatient and outpatient therapy at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. He recently committed $250,000 to the institute to express gratitude for the care he received.
The gift will buy state-of-the-art equipment for the Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, which marked its 50th anniversary last year.
“Mr. Saraiya and his family's generous giving will provide our clinicians with the tools to help our patients recover faster, 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 ensure our patients have access to the best treatments and outcomes possible.”
The 94-bed Johnson Rehabilitation Institute offers the state’s most comprehensive physical rehabilitation services. Its inpatient and outpatient resources range from physical to occupational and behavioral therapy. Its location provides patients access to emergency and acute medical care at JFK University Medical Center.
‘It Took a Village’
Kash was leaving home for the train station when he suffered the brain aneurysm that caused his stroke. He recalls little of the stroke and the days in intensive care immediately after. But he is grateful for the first responders, his family, surgeon and countless professionals at the institute who provided critical rehabilitative care.
“It took a village. I wouldn’t be alive if these wonderful people hadn’t been there for me,” says Kash.
Kash returned to the Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in 2020 for complex regional pain syndrome in his hand. Despite his medical setbacks, he remains upbeat. He works full-time and is grateful to be able to spend time with his wife, Monica, and adult 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!
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