Bob, Bobby & Bubba BACK Drive
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You may know him as Bob, Bobby or Bubba, or Mr. Speelman (I would bet only utility companies or solicitors use that one) – but one thing we all know him as is an incredible human. A human being who always helps out a neighbor, leads humbly from behind, and has taught many the value of prioritizing your life around Faith, Family, and Factory (in that order).
On February 28th, Bob Speelman (henceforth referred to as Bubba, because that’s how I know him) was in a car accident. Bubba was driving through the winding, hilly roads of GA when, after coming over the top of a hill, he realized an accident had just occurred in front of him. In the split second he had to stop, he noticed that there were children in the back seat of the car in front of him. In good old Bubba fashion, he swerved into a ditch to avoid hitting the car, causing his jeep to accelerate and crash into a tree. Bubba was not cited for the accident. The police officer on scene told Bubba that he had made the best possible choice, and that he was glad that he was able to avoid rear-ending the children.
After the accident, Bubba was up, walking around and talking until 2am, at which point he became nauseous and dizzy. He was immediately taken to the ER and then rushed to Grady Trauma Hospital in Atlanta. At 3:30pm Friday, March 1st, he became unresponsive and was rushed into an emergency craniotomy (a procedure wherein part of his skull was removed in order to expose the brain and remove the bleeding) to address a significant sub-dermal hematoma (brain bleed). At 4 am the next day he underwent a second emergency surgery for a separate subdural hematoma. The following Friday after his surgeries, he opened his eyes and attempted to speak. He appeared to be doing better for about a week, but then slipped back into a coma the subsequent Friday. He is now at Roosevelt Warm Springs Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital. He is still in a coma, but occasionally shows signs of emerging.
As you might imagine, the lives of his wife, daughters, and grandchild have been completely turned upside down. Bubba is a plastics plant manager by trade. In January of this year, the plant he was working for was shut down. Since that time, he has been working as a consultant in the field of plastics manufacturing. Due to his change of employment, he did not have access to short-term disability and is no longer bringing in any income for his family. The financial stress incurred by the $1200 a month cost of maintaining his COBRA insurance, the mounting hospital bills not covered by insurance, and all of the missed work and travel that has been required to be by his bedside, has been and will continue to be overwhelming to the Speelman family.
Bubba has racked up over 3 million dollars in medical care to date. The family is very thankful that COBRA was available to him from his previous position, but the out of pocket medical expenses to date stand at $22,000, and that figure will likely grow. His wife is struggling to meet the bills on her income alone.
Bubba has been the rock of the Speelman family, a strong father, and provider for not only his wife and daughters, but also his five-year-old granddaughter. His oldest daughter is permanently disabled as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident years ago, and his youngest daughter is a single mom with the father of the child living out of state. During this time, they are regrouping as a family support unit, and making the necessary sacrifices to adjust their lives in accordance with the harsh financial realities that have fallen upon them so that their beloved Bubba can heal and come back to them. Due to the complexity and uniqueness of brain injuries, and as is common, Bubba’s prognosis is unknown. But prognosis aside, we know he WILL WAKE UP!
The shock and worry of their situation are unimaginable. Therefore, we are coming together to help. If you know this family, you know what they’ve been through. Life obstacle after life obstacle, Bubba has been the strength, love, and help that has carried their family along the way. Now Bubba is the one who needs help.
If you don’t know them, know this: Bubba and the entirety of the Speelman family are the kindest, most generous, loving, genuine, and supportive family you could ever hope to know – the *literal* best family a family could be. They need your help to keep their family unit running while they focus on helping the pillar of their family wake up.
Thank you in advance for the support, love, and prayers.
On February 28th, Bob Speelman (henceforth referred to as Bubba, because that’s how I know him) was in a car accident. Bubba was driving through the winding, hilly roads of GA when, after coming over the top of a hill, he realized an accident had just occurred in front of him. In the split second he had to stop, he noticed that there were children in the back seat of the car in front of him. In good old Bubba fashion, he swerved into a ditch to avoid hitting the car, causing his jeep to accelerate and crash into a tree. Bubba was not cited for the accident. The police officer on scene told Bubba that he had made the best possible choice, and that he was glad that he was able to avoid rear-ending the children.
After the accident, Bubba was up, walking around and talking until 2am, at which point he became nauseous and dizzy. He was immediately taken to the ER and then rushed to Grady Trauma Hospital in Atlanta. At 3:30pm Friday, March 1st, he became unresponsive and was rushed into an emergency craniotomy (a procedure wherein part of his skull was removed in order to expose the brain and remove the bleeding) to address a significant sub-dermal hematoma (brain bleed). At 4 am the next day he underwent a second emergency surgery for a separate subdural hematoma. The following Friday after his surgeries, he opened his eyes and attempted to speak. He appeared to be doing better for about a week, but then slipped back into a coma the subsequent Friday. He is now at Roosevelt Warm Springs Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital. He is still in a coma, but occasionally shows signs of emerging.
As you might imagine, the lives of his wife, daughters, and grandchild have been completely turned upside down. Bubba is a plastics plant manager by trade. In January of this year, the plant he was working for was shut down. Since that time, he has been working as a consultant in the field of plastics manufacturing. Due to his change of employment, he did not have access to short-term disability and is no longer bringing in any income for his family. The financial stress incurred by the $1200 a month cost of maintaining his COBRA insurance, the mounting hospital bills not covered by insurance, and all of the missed work and travel that has been required to be by his bedside, has been and will continue to be overwhelming to the Speelman family.
Bubba has racked up over 3 million dollars in medical care to date. The family is very thankful that COBRA was available to him from his previous position, but the out of pocket medical expenses to date stand at $22,000, and that figure will likely grow. His wife is struggling to meet the bills on her income alone.
Bubba has been the rock of the Speelman family, a strong father, and provider for not only his wife and daughters, but also his five-year-old granddaughter. His oldest daughter is permanently disabled as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident years ago, and his youngest daughter is a single mom with the father of the child living out of state. During this time, they are regrouping as a family support unit, and making the necessary sacrifices to adjust their lives in accordance with the harsh financial realities that have fallen upon them so that their beloved Bubba can heal and come back to them. Due to the complexity and uniqueness of brain injuries, and as is common, Bubba’s prognosis is unknown. But prognosis aside, we know he WILL WAKE UP!
The shock and worry of their situation are unimaginable. Therefore, we are coming together to help. If you know this family, you know what they’ve been through. Life obstacle after life obstacle, Bubba has been the strength, love, and help that has carried their family along the way. Now Bubba is the one who needs help.
If you don’t know them, know this: Bubba and the entirety of the Speelman family are the kindest, most generous, loving, genuine, and supportive family you could ever hope to know – the *literal* best family a family could be. They need your help to keep their family unit running while they focus on helping the pillar of their family wake up.
Thank you in advance for the support, love, and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Troiola
Organizer
Newnan, GA
Lauren Speelman
Beneficiary
