On October 17, 2020, our dad, Calvin W. Tilley was hit by a car while crossing Washington Blvd in Williamsport, PA. Prior to that, he was a very fit 78 year old that spent his life working and helping others. He loved to hike and camp with his family. He had an infectious laugh. Anyone that heard it was blessed. He was never one to ask for help himself. However, as he was severely injured, his life took a drastic change...
He was rushed into surgery as soon as he arrived at Williamsport Hospital. The list of injuries to his body was devastating – broken neck, broken upper arm, broken collarbone, both legs shattered, and a brain injury. The fact that he survived the first surgery was a miracle. Those that know Calvin will say that his determination and dedication to healthy life style helped save him. Most importantly, we also know to thank God.
Because of the severity of his injuries, he was hospitalized in the ICU for over two months. And, as much as we would like to sing the praises of the hospital that saved him that day, we were not as lucky with the management of his injuries afterwards. An intravenous line in the only limb not broken from the accident was mismanaged and leaked into the tissues causing something called compartment syndrome. He had to have surgery to expose all his muscles in that arm from the top of his shoulder to his fingers in order to save it from amputation. The brain injury, which was bleeding inside the brain, was also diagnosed late and not treated effectively, causing what we hope is not permanent damage. Because of the accident and medical issues, he needed heavy sedation. He initially was unresponsive and dependent on a ventilator breathe for him. He eventually received a tracheotomy and a gastric feeding tube. He also had prostate cancer before the accident that was controlled with medication. However, without that medication for almost 3 months, it has now spread to his spine.
It seems like too much to bear for just one man, but Calvin persevered in the ICU. Slowly, as he underwent surgery after surgery to correct his broken body, he began to come back to his family. Now at least awake, but still dependent on the ventilator to breathe, he was discharged from the ICU and admitted to a rehabilitation unit at Geisinger Select Hospital.
And that’s when the hard work began to bring Calvin back to his family.
From being completely unresponsive for weeks and ventilator dependent, he has made phenomenal leaps and bounds. He no longer needs the ventilator. Though he may still need his tracheotomy, he breathes on his own. There is even talk that it might be able to be completely removed soon. He feeds himself. He sits and can even stand for about 20 seconds. He communicates and misses being home with his family and dogs very much.
We want him home too. However, trudging down this very hard road has been quite costly. He has depleted the medical benefits from his car insurance. Crazy, isn’t it? That a man that was hit by a car through no fault of his own and has to use his own car insurance benefits for treatment? Well, to make matters worse, he also has drained everything from his Medicare benefits. As of right now, he only has 60 days total of lifetime care before the family is responsible for every dollar spent on his health care.
Our only hope is to get him home and keep him home for 60 days in a row. Then his benefit period will reset and we can hopefully get him into another rehabilitation unit to get him the care he rightly deserves.
This is where we are hoping that our friends and family will come help. Prayers are needed for healing, for figuring this all out, for keeping him home for 60 days. At this time, he needs full time 24/7 medical care. He needs help bathing, toileting, transferring from a bed to a wheelchair, changing bandages (his legs still have open wounds), suctioning. Really everything. He should qualify for some in home health care. But, it won’t be even close to enough hours for his current needs.
So, right now, as a family, we have to find a way with what we got. His youngest daughter and wife will work every day to save the family business that was nearly crushed by Covid. His son will be trying to make arrangements for his life in Texas so that he can get home to help with care, but that will take time. His oldest daughter will be providing some of the care that he needs when the nurse isn’t available. He cannot be left alone. But these moving parts need time to connect and the hospital wants Calvin discharged next week. It almost feels like they're dumping him. But, we understand we can't use any more of those 60 days in a lifetime care. He has to come home. There are no other options.
It’s a long shot, but Calvin does not know the meaning of the word “stop.” He worked his entire life without ever having a single thought about retirement and resting. And if he doesn’t know how to stop, then he certainly doesn’t know how to stop fighting to get back to what he misses so much. And, as a family, we are fighting for him. So, could you please be part of the fight too? Prayers, shares and financial donations would be greatly appreciated.
He was rushed into surgery as soon as he arrived at Williamsport Hospital. The list of injuries to his body was devastating – broken neck, broken upper arm, broken collarbone, both legs shattered, and a brain injury. The fact that he survived the first surgery was a miracle. Those that know Calvin will say that his determination and dedication to healthy life style helped save him. Most importantly, we also know to thank God.
Because of the severity of his injuries, he was hospitalized in the ICU for over two months. And, as much as we would like to sing the praises of the hospital that saved him that day, we were not as lucky with the management of his injuries afterwards. An intravenous line in the only limb not broken from the accident was mismanaged and leaked into the tissues causing something called compartment syndrome. He had to have surgery to expose all his muscles in that arm from the top of his shoulder to his fingers in order to save it from amputation. The brain injury, which was bleeding inside the brain, was also diagnosed late and not treated effectively, causing what we hope is not permanent damage. Because of the accident and medical issues, he needed heavy sedation. He initially was unresponsive and dependent on a ventilator breathe for him. He eventually received a tracheotomy and a gastric feeding tube. He also had prostate cancer before the accident that was controlled with medication. However, without that medication for almost 3 months, it has now spread to his spine.
It seems like too much to bear for just one man, but Calvin persevered in the ICU. Slowly, as he underwent surgery after surgery to correct his broken body, he began to come back to his family. Now at least awake, but still dependent on the ventilator to breathe, he was discharged from the ICU and admitted to a rehabilitation unit at Geisinger Select Hospital.
And that’s when the hard work began to bring Calvin back to his family.
From being completely unresponsive for weeks and ventilator dependent, he has made phenomenal leaps and bounds. He no longer needs the ventilator. Though he may still need his tracheotomy, he breathes on his own. There is even talk that it might be able to be completely removed soon. He feeds himself. He sits and can even stand for about 20 seconds. He communicates and misses being home with his family and dogs very much.
We want him home too. However, trudging down this very hard road has been quite costly. He has depleted the medical benefits from his car insurance. Crazy, isn’t it? That a man that was hit by a car through no fault of his own and has to use his own car insurance benefits for treatment? Well, to make matters worse, he also has drained everything from his Medicare benefits. As of right now, he only has 60 days total of lifetime care before the family is responsible for every dollar spent on his health care.
Our only hope is to get him home and keep him home for 60 days in a row. Then his benefit period will reset and we can hopefully get him into another rehabilitation unit to get him the care he rightly deserves.
This is where we are hoping that our friends and family will come help. Prayers are needed for healing, for figuring this all out, for keeping him home for 60 days. At this time, he needs full time 24/7 medical care. He needs help bathing, toileting, transferring from a bed to a wheelchair, changing bandages (his legs still have open wounds), suctioning. Really everything. He should qualify for some in home health care. But, it won’t be even close to enough hours for his current needs.
So, right now, as a family, we have to find a way with what we got. His youngest daughter and wife will work every day to save the family business that was nearly crushed by Covid. His son will be trying to make arrangements for his life in Texas so that he can get home to help with care, but that will take time. His oldest daughter will be providing some of the care that he needs when the nurse isn’t available. He cannot be left alone. But these moving parts need time to connect and the hospital wants Calvin discharged next week. It almost feels like they're dumping him. But, we understand we can't use any more of those 60 days in a lifetime care. He has to come home. There are no other options.
It’s a long shot, but Calvin does not know the meaning of the word “stop.” He worked his entire life without ever having a single thought about retirement and resting. And if he doesn’t know how to stop, then he certainly doesn’t know how to stop fighting to get back to what he misses so much. And, as a family, we are fighting for him. So, could you please be part of the fight too? Prayers, shares and financial donations would be greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mindy Tilley Price
Beneficiary