On Saturday, July 2nd. Ashton Shepherd was in a horrible accident. He was playing with fireworks in his backyard and a firework exploded unexpectedly sending a dime size piece of metal shrapnel into his chest. When the shrapnel entered it chipped his sternum and was imbedded into his right lung. Ashton was rushed to the U.V.R.M.C. (Provo, Utah Hospital) trauma unit. Ashton suffered a collapsed lung and the doctors were unable to remove the shrapnel, because it would cause more life threatening damage. He had to have a tube inserted into his lung through his ribcage to drain the blood that was filling into his right collapsed lung. He has been in a great deal of pain and is currently fighting for his life in ICU and will be there for many days to come. The doctors and nurses said if the shrapnel would have entered his chest a centimeter in any other direction, there is a great chance he would not be here today. They told us several times how lucky he is to be alive.

 

Ashton Shepherd is an employee of the independent Utah Branch of XPO Logistics. Ashton has spent a great deal donating his time, efforts and money to several charities throughout Utah. He has been a very important employee and person to his company, and to many charities that he has helped. Ashton has had his share of challenges in the last few years with health problems. We know he is a tuff kid and will pull through this. We are asking everyone first for their thoughts, prayers and positive energy for a speedy recovery. As everyone knows the cost of his hospital care, and continued recovery is more than anyone, or family can bare. We ask for any help that you may be able to give him. There is no donation to small.

 

 

We also want to thank the Spanish Fork EMTs, Ambulance Service, the U.V.R.M.C. Trauma Unit, and the great Doctors, Surgeons, and Nurses that have helped him to this point. We know he is not out of the woods yet but we do know that with all the prayers and help he is getting he should slowly recover.

 

Thank you to all that can help and god bless his friends, family and of course Ashton.