Able/Lalo is a groomsman in my upcoming wedding. I have known him for 20 years and we are ,for all intents and purposes, family. Able came to Whistler, BC, Canada for my bachelor party. He had never skied or snowboarded, but decided he was going to try it out. On the first day he was going great, and on a beginner run, experienced what seem to be a pretty standard fall... it would turn out not to be a normal fall at all.

Able sustained a serious concussion with light hemorrhaging. He was immediately air evacuated to Vancouver General hospital via helicopter.  His wife and parents immediately flew out from Phoenix Arizona to be by his side. Seeing as they didn’t have valid passports, they flew into Portland OR, and drove 5 hours to Vancouver. Able was hospitalized and kept in a medically induced coma for 2 days, breathing ventilator and all. Once the scans were complete and it deemed surgery wasn’t necessary, they backed off the meds and allowed Able to wake up. The first thing he asked for was to talk to his sons. It took a few days to get back to normal, only to find out he had minor bleeding in his lower spine as well. After further testing, he realized that he didn’t have motor function from his ankles down.  He has since been released, after a week, and is back at home in AZ. The new challenge is that he has lost all motor function in his feet. The next step is to start physical therapy and try to get back to a normal life.  

Before this trip, Able was just promoted to the facilities director at U-Haul Corporate. A position that requires him to be physically engaged. Needless to say, he cant go back to work until he regains the use of his feet.

The GOOD NEWS... his insurance covered most of the medical costs, and Whistler covered hotel for his family while he was in the hospital.

The BAD NEWS... he has ran up a $10,000 in medical deductibles and  travel costs, and is going to get up to $20,000 with him being out of work while he works to regain the function of his feet.

I am starting this go fund me to help recoup those costs and help his wife and 4 sons get through this trying time. If you can help at all, I’m an sure his family will appreciate it . He is one of the best men I know, and has been a dear friend and brother for 20+ years. He and his family aren’t the type to ask for help... So I figured I would do it for them. 

Thank you all for any financial help you can provide and your prayers.

God bless,

Nic Friedman