Jeff Byers Medical Fund

My name is John Welborn.  My family considers Jeff Byers and his wife Sharon, part of our family. I am raising money to help cover Jeff's unexpected hospital payments, and finanical costs due to his unforseen complications arising from his recent surgery to remove pulmonary embolisms and blood clots that have formed in his lungs. Jeff's surgery was performed at UC San Diego Thorton Hospital.  Normally a patient will be in ICU one day  and then another 6 days in the hospital recoving and  preparing for home.  Jeff's surgery on April 6th did not go well. Jeff was in the ICU in critical condition for over 3 weeks in an induced coma hooked up to a heart lung machine, a ventalator to keep him breathing and a dialysis machine because his kidneys had started to fail. Sharon Jeff's wife has not left his side to this day. Sharon has taken a temporary  leave of abscense from her job to be with Jeff in his recovery.  Jeff has since been weaned off all life support devices and is awake and communicating at first by squeezing hands and blinking his eyes. Jeff's ventilator for breathing has giving way to a trach in his throat and he can now speak some words and is swallowing broths and  liquids. These are all milestones in his recovery.  Jeff is the owner and manager of Trek Bikes of Ventura  (TBOV) and is  an avid cyclist. Jeff has the heart of an athlete and fighter. Jeff shows signs of improvement every day because of his determination to return home with his wife and lead a normal life once again.  The unforseen costs have been staggering. $6000 insurance deductable. Housing costs for Sharon so she can be there for Jeff's recovery in San Diego, and the list goes on and on.  Imagine expecting to be home in a week from the hospital and then being informed by doctors that it could be over two months before Jeff returns home.  As manager of Trek Bikes of Ventura, Jeff has sponsored multiple benifits and fund raisers for people in need. He held a benifit at Trek Bikes in Ventura for  a sherrif officer who lost his home in a fire. Jeff has raised money for fellow cyclists who have been injured on the road to cover their medical costs. Jeff is that kind of guy.  Now it's time that we can help Jeff and Sharon in this time of need.  I would be so grateful for any donations large or small as soon as possible to help cover Jeff's  mounting medical costs. I know Jeff and Sharon will also be so appreciative for your prayers and finacial support. This is what friends, family and community do for those we love and have been there for us in the past when we needed them. Thank you for being part of Jeff's healing process.