Chainsaws, Comas, and Comebacks--support Jeff's recovery

On Friday morning, July 25th, paramedics showed up to the Ladd home with the kind of news no family ever wants to hear. Our dad, Jeff Ladd, had been in a serious chainsaw accident.

He was airlifted to the hospital and immediately went into surgery. By the time he was settled into the Critical Care Unit (CCU), his family was anxiously waiting to see him. We were told he should wake up within 72 hours.

But that 72-hour window came and went, and the conversation shifted. We started hearing phrases like “Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6,” “anoxic brain injury,” and “waiting game.” The amount of blood loss had deprived his brain of oxygen, and now, both the timeline for waking up and the road to recovery are unknown.

If you know my dad, you know he’s the first one to show up when someone needs help. He’s always fixing something, lending a hand, or volunteering his time — he gives without ever asking for anything in return. He's a teacher, an FFA advisor, a learn-to-hunt mentor, a coach, and a blood donor. More importantly, he's a son, brother, husband, friend, and father to his three children: Remington, Rylee, and Reyana.

My dad is going to be here to see my sister graduate high school, to walk me down the aisle when I get married, to help my brother with his new home, and to celebrate his 30th anniversary with my mom. But it’s going to take time--and an incredible amount of strength.

Waking up is just the first step. Dad will need intensive follow-up care, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, transportation to appointments, medications, help re-learning how to be himself, and the list goes on.

Jeff has never been someone to ask for help — so now, we’re doing that for him. We’re asking for support in any way you’re able to give. Every donation, no matter the size, helps ease the weight we’re carrying. We’ve already felt so much love from this incredible community, and we’re deeply grateful for every kind word, prayer, meal, hug, and visit.

If you are unable to give, please consider sharing our story. The love and support our family receives is giving my dad the strength he needs to keep fighting.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Jeff's Family--Penny, Remington, Rylee, and Reyana