Mark McKenzie

I’m starting this Go Fund Me account for Mark and Tara McKenzie. My favorite sister and Brother-in law have found themselves in an unfamiliar position where they need help. Life can change in a blink of an eye, and in our world that happened on Sunday December 3rd when Mark fell down the stairs at the South Dakota farm.  10 days later Mark had a series of seizures at work.  He spent the next 30 days in the ICU dealing with a brain contusion, seizures and ICU delirium. In that time he also suffered an injury to the nerve clusters in both his armpits leaving him with no feeling and no use of either arm. The diagnosis is a Bilateral Brachial Plexus injury. It is an uncommon injury to begin with but it’s very rare to suffer the injury to both arms.  Nerves do re-generate but no one knows to what extent or how long this will take.  Guestimates are in the 2 year range which is difficult to imagine.

Mark continues to receive rehab and round the clock care at a post hospital facility due to his TBI ( traumatic brain injury) and nerve injury. Since his hands don’t work, He remains totally dependent to eat, go to the bathroom, pick-up anything, bath, dress, or give himself any care. The insurance company seems to be ignoring this major complication to the rule of making progress in all areas. Mark has had to leave two hospitals in a state of inability to care for himself due to the injuries to his arms.

Mark and Tara are on a very long Journey as Mark recovers physically and mentally. Tara continues to work full time and has been Mark’s best advocate during the past 7 weeks. I don’t know how much money to even ask for...the cost of a personal care attendant for Mark if insurance stops paying for medical services is a huge expense. Especially if it takes 2 years to re-grow Marks nerves. The idea of 1 income and all the medical expenses looming I just feel like I have to do something for them. Please visit Marks CaringBridge page Markmckenzie for updates and thank you for any help you can give!

Tiffany Vreeman