Please Help Lincoln Walk Again!

DEAREST FAMILY AND FRIENDS -
Lincoln and I are so grateful for your loving support during this incredibly challenging time in our lives!  As most of you probably know by now, Lincoln was in a terrible accident on December 12th. He hit a car after they sped through a red light, and when he got out of his  car to check on them, like the good Samaritan he is, he was struck by another car. Lincoln has a fractured L2 vertebrae and will have to wear a brace for at least the next three months. The car hit him in the back of the legs and they were so swollen initially that he could not use his left leg and needs a walker to walk. It has been a very hard time for us, as you can imagine. 
 
Please know that even though I (Laurie) have been absent from Facebook for the past several weeks, I have been steadily working in the background and depending on my husband to read all the beautiful words of encouragement you have each written over the past weeks not only to Lincoln, but to me.

You must know that they have brought tears to our eyes many times over.....I don't think we truly realized the power words could hold. I still find myself at a loss for words at your kindnesses. I'm reminded that at one point, as he was reading aloud to me, I just stopped what I was doing and turned around. "Lincoln, has it crossed your mind that the vast majority of us never get to hear these kinds of words while our hearts are still beating? I have no answers as to why such a terrible thing happened to you, but do you realize how profoundly blessed you are to be sitting here able to read and hear all the well-wishes, knowing that your contributions are making a difference in this world?" It was a humbling moment. We have had many of these in the past 21+ days.

Which is what led us to this: Being realistic about our immediate financial future.

We began "tightening our belts immediately, of course. "Necessities only" became our new motto. For Christmas this past year, we as a family gladly gave up the traditional exchange of gifts and just cherished our precious time together. But even with that simple thing, we have come to the realization that this time we need to reach out and take the hand that you, our friends and family, our community, have offered.

And so.... we ask.

Beginning on that awful morning on December 12th, our multiple incomes instantaneously stopped. We both began unplanned/unpaid leaves from work: Lincoln to heal, and me to be able to help with daily living activities, which now include (greatfully) physical therapy. For the next 2+ months while Lincoln is healing and not able to do all the things that he loves, even the commitment of walking his beloved fur-babies has been relegated out to a trusted few of us.

A candid look into our lives reveals us watching the medical expenses climbing at an alarming rate, as our savings decline faster than we even imagined. How could this happen? Our yearly medical deductible is $14,000 before our health insurance pays a dime. Now we are in a new year....Honestly, I don't know if we owe a NEW 2017 deductible on top of this or not. Probably. We have already received a notice (that we have been told is "common practice"), informing us that the Trauma Center Lincoln was treated at will be proceeding in placing a lein against us until this bill is satisfied. Prescriptions and the medical devices he requires for his rehabilitation have already exceeded $800.00. His twice weekly physical therapy is also due as services are rendered. January alone will be $2,359.00. The orthopedic doctors visits/tests are equally expensive. At this time, our automobile is still being repaired, and the damage is estimated to be at $6,200.00.

According to our legal advisor, the traffic accident Lincoln was involved in must be considered as multiple accidents that will take considerable time, as much as 12-24 months, to settle. We have been advised that acceptance of a check from any of the 3 insurance companies before this happens constitutes as settlement. Until that time, we are pretty much on our own. Is this how people materially loose everything in the 'figurative' blink of an eye?

We would appreciate any contribution at all that you can make to help us cover these expenses and other bills to get us through this crisis for the next few months. It would be a generous and enormous blessing that would allow Lincoln to concentrate on healing.

Please know that it is incredibly hard and humbling to ask for your help. We are immensely and forever grateful for the love and support of family and friends around the world, and simply could not get through this without all of you.

Know also that we are truly a "Pay it Forward" kind of family, so someone else, somewhere, will benefit from this. It won't stop here.

Love & light,
Lincoln & Laurie