Buddha's Motorcycle Accident Fund
Donation protected
On September 3, 2013, just two days after our first daughter's 4th birthday, and 24 days after the birth of our third daughter, my husband was rear ended and run over while riding his motorcycle back to work from lunch. He was rushed to the emergency room via ambulance, where his injuries were assessed and miraculously, he suffered no broken bones or internal injuries. He lost most of the skin from his left forearm, right elbow and knee, as well as injury to his left shoulder that left him with painful, limited motion even now, three months later.
Due to the amount of swelling in his forearm, which was run over in the accident, we were given strict instructions to watch very closely for symptoms of compartment syndrome, which could cause permanent disability and tissue death, leading to loss of limb. A couple of weeks after the accident, after meticulous care of wound and injury, the swelling was not reducing and some of the symptoms of compartment syndrome started to present. I noticed a bad infection forming in his wrist, where the wound was deepest. I made an appointment with our primary care physician, who prescribed two different antibiotics for the infection, but was much more concerned about the swelling and sent us immediately back to the emergency room to have it checked out. Again, we were relieved to be informed that it was just a large hematoma and that it would likely resolve itself.
Recovery was slow and very, very painful. The wounds had to be scrubbed and re-dressed daily and the prescription painkillers did little to provide relief. All in all, he was home for 7 weeks and our only source of income disappeared. As of now, his forearm has severe nerve damage that may or may not be permanent, and other areas that are still painful to touch. His shoulder has very limited range of motion and is very painful to move. We are still unsure of whether or not this issue will resolve over time either. His forearm is disfigured, and causes great mental and emotional grief that will take a long time to recover from. Of course, I love him just the same as ever, and am thankful that he's alive and still around to be the most amazing husband and father to our three young girls, but I know he struggles.
It took a long time for us to receive all of the paperwork from the hospital visits so that we could send them to the insurance company. We've waited patiently, knowing that our expenses would be taken care of before too long, and that we would be back on track soon. On the morning of November 29, the insurance company called to inform him that the hospital had filed a lien against his claim in the amount of $48,000, but that the policy limit is $30,000. They said that despite their attempt to negotiate that amount down further, the hospital was firm in that amount, and they basically informed us that we would be left owing the $18,000 difference, and additionally, not reimbursed for the $5000 worth of expenses we incurred in other testing, follow up visits, prescriptions, and dressing supplies, and would not be compensated for time away from work.
All in all, this leaves our family down by about $30,000: $23,000 in medical expenses and about $7,000 in lost wages. I was very hesitant to start a Go Fund Me account, because we've always prided ourselves in being able to endure life's curve balls with a little faith in each other and a lot of love. But this situation is different, and we're being heavily penalized for something that's out of our control, and it's threatening our home and also our business, both of which we haven't had the money to keep up with. I know that I've donated to many an online fund in the past, and that anybody who knows my husband knows that he is an incredibly kind and generous man, almost to a fault. I know that there are people that would be eager to give back! I'm hoping that all of the kindness he's sent out into the world can come back to help in such a time of need. I don't expect to raise $30,000, though I would be so humbled and grateful if somehow we did. Anything helps, even a dollar, but even if you can't donate, I understand! I know that position all too well. The best way to help is to PLEASE share our story with your friends and family!
Thank you all SO MUCH for even taking the time to look!
Due to the amount of swelling in his forearm, which was run over in the accident, we were given strict instructions to watch very closely for symptoms of compartment syndrome, which could cause permanent disability and tissue death, leading to loss of limb. A couple of weeks after the accident, after meticulous care of wound and injury, the swelling was not reducing and some of the symptoms of compartment syndrome started to present. I noticed a bad infection forming in his wrist, where the wound was deepest. I made an appointment with our primary care physician, who prescribed two different antibiotics for the infection, but was much more concerned about the swelling and sent us immediately back to the emergency room to have it checked out. Again, we were relieved to be informed that it was just a large hematoma and that it would likely resolve itself.
Recovery was slow and very, very painful. The wounds had to be scrubbed and re-dressed daily and the prescription painkillers did little to provide relief. All in all, he was home for 7 weeks and our only source of income disappeared. As of now, his forearm has severe nerve damage that may or may not be permanent, and other areas that are still painful to touch. His shoulder has very limited range of motion and is very painful to move. We are still unsure of whether or not this issue will resolve over time either. His forearm is disfigured, and causes great mental and emotional grief that will take a long time to recover from. Of course, I love him just the same as ever, and am thankful that he's alive and still around to be the most amazing husband and father to our three young girls, but I know he struggles.
It took a long time for us to receive all of the paperwork from the hospital visits so that we could send them to the insurance company. We've waited patiently, knowing that our expenses would be taken care of before too long, and that we would be back on track soon. On the morning of November 29, the insurance company called to inform him that the hospital had filed a lien against his claim in the amount of $48,000, but that the policy limit is $30,000. They said that despite their attempt to negotiate that amount down further, the hospital was firm in that amount, and they basically informed us that we would be left owing the $18,000 difference, and additionally, not reimbursed for the $5000 worth of expenses we incurred in other testing, follow up visits, prescriptions, and dressing supplies, and would not be compensated for time away from work.
All in all, this leaves our family down by about $30,000: $23,000 in medical expenses and about $7,000 in lost wages. I was very hesitant to start a Go Fund Me account, because we've always prided ourselves in being able to endure life's curve balls with a little faith in each other and a lot of love. But this situation is different, and we're being heavily penalized for something that's out of our control, and it's threatening our home and also our business, both of which we haven't had the money to keep up with. I know that I've donated to many an online fund in the past, and that anybody who knows my husband knows that he is an incredibly kind and generous man, almost to a fault. I know that there are people that would be eager to give back! I'm hoping that all of the kindness he's sent out into the world can come back to help in such a time of need. I don't expect to raise $30,000, though I would be so humbled and grateful if somehow we did. Anything helps, even a dollar, but even if you can't donate, I understand! I know that position all too well. The best way to help is to PLEASE share our story with your friends and family!
Thank you all SO MUCH for even taking the time to look!
Organizer
Kayla Gonzales
Organizer
Cedar Park, TX
