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This is posted in support of Mike Shifler, a lifelong Boonsboro resident and family man with a wife Ronda, son Cam, daughter-in-law Jill, and a recently retired and loving babysitter for his grandchildren Maddie, Jax, and Hadleigh.
On Sunday, August 20, 2017, Mike had a “really bad headache”. The headache became progressively worse as the day went on. By the next day, Mike himself called for medical assistance, and he could barely walk to the ambulance when it arrived. A little more than 12 hours after arriving at the hospital, Mike was unresponsive and in severe pain. He was flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma where he for the next 8 to 9 weeks was in a coma. His wife Ronda, was, and continues to be by his side each day, advocating for his health and daily care. Once awake, it was determined that Mike was unable to move any part of his body, eat, swallow or communicate. After exhaustive tests and procedures, the only explanation the team of over 20 doctors, therapists, and specialists could offer was that Mike had contracted some form of “bacterial encephalitis.” The diagnosis was heartbreaking; the prognosis, earth shattering.
Mike has now been in a nursing care facility since November 2017. Although there are signs the brain is healing and he has made progress through vigorous speech therapies, physical therapies, occupational therapies, etc., Mike is still in a position for complete care at the hands of others for every aspect of his life. The fact that Mike cannot clearly communicate his wants and needs to his family or nurses is an increasing frustration for Mike.
We recently learned from his loving wife and amazing advocate Ronda, that there is an assistive technology computer board which would help Mike communicate via the use of his eye movements aimed at various pre-programmed parts of a computer board. During a trial run of the board, Mike experienced great success and demonstrated how this piece of modern technology would allow Mike to communicate his needs, including when he is pain with the nurses, enhancing his progress without frustration as his brain continues to heal. While the family was initially elated and filled with hope, the family soon learned the board would cost $18,000 and the insurance would not obtain or cover these costs.
The Medical and Nursing home expenses for Mike's care are continually mounting, and continue to escalate, as he struggles to fight this medical condition. The ongoing costs, associated with his care, have exhausted the Shifler’s savings, retirement, and nest eggs, making it very difficult, month after month.
Any amount of donation you can make to help Ronda and the family purchase this amazing board for Mike is greatly appreciated. Mike and his family have done many things for our community throughout the years, and this is an opportunity to now help them.
Thank you in advance for your help, and please share this post with others you may know!
At the request of GoFundMe I am updating the story to make sure everyone is clear on who we are and the process:
My name is Vickie Kane and with my husband Greg Kane and we set up this campaign to support our long time friend Mike Shifler. We are also from Boonsboro where we have lived for 27 years. We have known Mike, his wife Ronda, and their son Cam for over 23 years. As the article details we are raising the money to assist Ronda and the family who must completely support Mike to purchase an assistive technology computer board to help Mike communicate via the use of his eye movements aimed at various pre-programmed parts of a computer board. This will help him communicate his needs, including when he is pain, with the nurses to enhance his progress and help heal his brain. Greg and I are overseeing the campaign and when we withdraw your generous donations we are giving them directly to Ronda for the purchase of the board.
On Sunday, August 20, 2017, Mike had a “really bad headache”. The headache became progressively worse as the day went on. By the next day, Mike himself called for medical assistance, and he could barely walk to the ambulance when it arrived. A little more than 12 hours after arriving at the hospital, Mike was unresponsive and in severe pain. He was flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma where he for the next 8 to 9 weeks was in a coma. His wife Ronda, was, and continues to be by his side each day, advocating for his health and daily care. Once awake, it was determined that Mike was unable to move any part of his body, eat, swallow or communicate. After exhaustive tests and procedures, the only explanation the team of over 20 doctors, therapists, and specialists could offer was that Mike had contracted some form of “bacterial encephalitis.” The diagnosis was heartbreaking; the prognosis, earth shattering.Mike has now been in a nursing care facility since November 2017. Although there are signs the brain is healing and he has made progress through vigorous speech therapies, physical therapies, occupational therapies, etc., Mike is still in a position for complete care at the hands of others for every aspect of his life. The fact that Mike cannot clearly communicate his wants and needs to his family or nurses is an increasing frustration for Mike.We recently learned from his loving wife and amazing advocate Ronda, that there is an assistive technology computer board which would help Mike communicate via the use of his eye movements aimed at various pre-programmed parts of a computer board. During a trial run of the board, Mike experienced great success and demonstrated how this piece of modern technology would allow Mike to communicate his needs, including when he is pain with the nurses, enhancing his progress without frustration as his brain continues to heal. While the family was initially elated and filled with hope, the family soon learned the board would cost $18,000 and the insurance would not obtain or cover these costs.
The Medical and Nursing home expenses for Mike's care are continually mounting, and continue to escalate, as he struggles to fight this medical condition. The ongoing costs, associated with his care, have exhausted the Shifler’s savings, retirement, and nest eggs, making it very difficult, month after month.
Any amount of donation you can make to help Ronda and the family purchase this amazing board for Mike is greatly appreciated. Mike and his family have done many things for our community throughout the years, and this is an opportunity to now help them.
Thank you in advance for your help, and please share this post with others you may know!
At the request of GoFundMe I am updating the story to make sure everyone is clear on who we are and the process:
My name is Vickie Kane and with my husband Greg Kane and we set up this campaign to support our long time friend Mike Shifler. We are also from Boonsboro where we have lived for 27 years. We have known Mike, his wife Ronda, and their son Cam for over 23 years. As the article details we are raising the money to assist Ronda and the family who must completely support Mike to purchase an assistive technology computer board to help Mike communicate via the use of his eye movements aimed at various pre-programmed parts of a computer board. This will help him communicate his needs, including when he is pain, with the nurses to enhance his progress and help heal his brain. Greg and I are overseeing the campaign and when we withdraw your generous donations we are giving them directly to Ronda for the purchase of the board.
Organizer
Vickie Orme Kane
Organizer
Boonsboro, MD
