I am Mike Cullen’s longtime friend Dave Gallison who talked Mike into letting me write this narrative and who is among those offering initial support.

Before work on Monday March 17th, Mike Cullen suffered a rare and very severe spinal stroke in his thoracic region, which has unfortunately left him permanently paralyzed from the chest down (legs, trunk and pelvic organs). Two weeks in the hospital followed by 32 days of inpatient rehabilitation means Mike just got back home this past week, and I only recently found out what happened.

While continuing therapies may offer some minor improvement and help with adjusting to paraplegia, Mike is facing a drastically altered life from the outdoor recreation he so loves. He's already adapted to using a power wheelchair for limited mobility, but willl also need an incline platform lift to get upstairs at home. Currently, his major goal is to achieve transportation independence. Acquiring a van or SUV with wheelchair access and adapted for driving by a paraplegic is a huge stretch, at about $80,000. This will enable him to return to work as the Energy Conservation Coordinator at the nonprofit COMMUNITY ACTION.

Mike Cullen and I are acquainted through our nearly three decades of volunteer service on the Mt Hood Ski Patrol at Timberline. Mike led the Patrol Host program as Director for three years and continued providing onslope as well as admin support for 20+ years. Mike shared his infectious love of the slopes with riders of all types and ages, and guided fellow hosts in their safety and support role to above all, “have fun!”

For his many selfless contributions and extensive volunteer hours, Mike was awarded the inaugural “Host of the Year.” As a symbol of that fun and adventurous spirit, Mike obtained silver pine cone pins which he awarded to fellow hosts and others who had ventured off-piste. And it was through skiing at Timberline that Mike met his wife Holly Kosko on "Ski The Glade Day" 2007.

In Mike’s next adventure, his beloved old red Solomon Falcon boots with the gold buckles will be set aside as he looks for new ways to stay connected to the mountain and the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. It will be a long process of adjusting to the new normal with paraplegia, though in true Mountain Mike form he remains upbeat with a “fighting spirit.” Mike looks forward to contributing once again in his key role at work, through Mt Hood Ski Patrol, and his community.

But he and Holly will need our help….

Please consider donating to Mike's GoFundMe to support his difficult healing journey ahead and in particular his need for a costly wheelchair accessible vehicle that is beyond Mike and Holly's financial resources.