Desperate for Air Ambulance & Medical Necessities

Hi, I'm a friend of Curt and Bynthia Gates. Minnesota natives, the Gates found themselves on an extended stay in Texas. Curt was knocked from a tree he was trimming two years ago, passed away, and was resuscitated. Having broken his neck, he rode by ambulance to a local ER for emergency surgery. Formerly a vibrant, athletic, active man, Curt now finds himself totally vulnerable, disabled, quadriplegic, and ventilator dependent for life support. Worse, he has spent the past twelve months in the hospital.

Though fraught with stress and difficulty, time since Curt’s accident testifies to God’s grace. Before his injury, Curt donated a large percentage of his salary to the church, served in every volunteer capacity available, led in-home Bible Studies, financed and volunteered at downtown homeless shelters, and arrived first to give when anyone expressed financial need. Now HE needs financial help. One of God’s acts of great love to the couple appeared in the provision of kindhearted, generous friends in Houston, who help them with physical and spiritual needs.

Curt and Bynthia traveled to Houston because Curt was offered a procedure that would help him wean from the ventilator. The visit did not go as planned. Still in Houston and approaching a year since their arrival, due to Curt’s medical complications, Bynthia’s bills for room and board to lodge near her husband's hospital mount. The Gates have now been informed their insurance company has denied the cost of the air ambulance to return home to Minnesota. With full knowledge of Curt’s quadriplegic condition and requirements for a ventilator, the hospital and insurance company have chosen to treat him as if he’s an ambulatory patient who does not need air ambulance transportation. They have attempted to discharge Curt to a nursing home in Texas – and they expect his wife to leave him there and return to Minnesota! Bynthia successfully cared for Curt at home before their Houston trip and she has no intention of leaving him in a Texas nursing facility over 1,100 miles from home! The money raised from this GoFundMe provides the only financial means in which to return Curt to Minnesota and enable Bynthia to care for him again in their home.

In addition to an airlift, the money provides means to finish renovating Curt and Bynthia’s home to provide a safe environment for Curt. It also will purchase a wheelchair-accessible used van for Curt to attend medical appointments, none of which is covered by insurance. Before his injury, Curt tackled many renovation projects, both inside and outside their home. Unfortunately, he cannot make the renovations he needs now. We’ve listed the costs below based on good-faith estimates of our goals. We know it's a big number, but this is the Gates’ financial reality, and demonstrates why we are here praying God will provide! Any extra funds beyond the immediate Goal listed will offset costs of medical equipment not covered by insurance and the 24/7 ongoing care required for a person with Curt’s severe physical limitations.

May God Bless each one of you reading this. He knows each of you by name and knows your needs too. Our collective prayer for Curt and Bynthia:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)."

Current needs:

• $25K for an air ambulance flight to return Curt home from Houston

• $45K bill for Bynthia’s lodging in Houston while Curt remains hospitalized

• $50K for a home wheelchair elevator and installation so Curt can be brought to their home basement for safety in Minnesota’s notorious tornado season

• $70K to purchase a used, mobility-modified van

• $420/year for a Rx Pill System to help manage doctor’s orders, amounts, refills, prescription doses and times for the 42 daily medications Curt’s condition requires

• $$ Ongoing expenses for home health aides, physical therapy, and countless medical supplies that are not covered by insurance

• $$ Ongoing expenses to manage maintenance of their home since Bynthia may no longer distance herself beyond 10 feet of caring for Curt at any time