Dennis Acker's Road to Recovery

Hi, my name is Maya, and I am fundraising for my father, Dennis Acker. My father takes great pride in decorating our house for the neighbors to enjoy during the holidays. While hanging the last strand of outside Christmas lights on December 2, 2023, my dad fell off the roof. He is very lucky to have survived the fall, but unfortunately, he has sustained traumatic injuries that will take time to come back from. My dad fractured his pelvis in multiple locations, which to date has resulted in two surgeries due to the complexity of the pelvis and the location of the fractures being so close to the nerves. The doctors and nurses continue to be perplexed by his injury and the resulting complications.

After 25 arduous days in the hospital, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Beverly. His care team at the rehabilitation center has been wonderful in getting him on the road to recovery. Currently, he is doing 3-4 hours of therapy a day learning how to live his “new normal” in a wheelchair. The occupational therapists have been working with him to learn how to do normal everyday tasks that we often think nothing of being able to do, while the physical therapists have been working with him to rebuild his strength after being bed ridden for over a month. He has come a long way in being able to transfer himself into and out of the wheelchair and has become adept at maneuvering the wheelchair around the rehabilitation center. Although his care team is hopeful that he will walk again, he is still non weightbearing for at least another 4-6 weeks making daily tasks strenuous.

Due to health insurance limitations, the rehabilitation center will need to discharge him in the next few days. We, of course, need to prepare the house before he comes home so that he is easily able to get around the house in a wheelchair. This includes installing ramps and renting the necessary hospital equipment to be sure he has what is required for him to continue to function and heal without the fabulous support that he is currently receiving.

This GoFundMe campaign aims to lessen the financial strain on my dad as we navigate through this life-altering journey. The funds raised will go towards covering medical bills, travel expenses, equipment rentals, house alterations, and basic living expenses during his recovery.

My dad is not one to ask for support of any kind, but I feel that he needs all the love and support we can give him to keep him motivated during these trying times. No amount is too small or insignificant, as every donation will make a difference. Your generosity will alleviate his financial worries and allow him to fully focus on his recovery.

Many of you may know my dad from the Cape Ann Savings Bank in Gloucester where he has enjoyed working with the Gloucester community as the Assistant Vice President of Retail Banking or from his community service work within the community.

The road ahead for my dad may be challenging, but with your help, we can ensure that he doesn’t face it alone. I humbly ask that you share this link with family and friends. Your contributions, kind words, and prayers will serve as the foundation of strength that he needs on this emotional journey.

Thank you sincerely for your support, generosity, and love.

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