Fighting for Peter Sarbacker's Life

On the evening of July 16th, Peter Sarbacker's Birthday, there was a tragic accident and Peter accidentally shot himself under the left jaw and the bullet exited out of the inner corner of his left eye. Through the quick thinking and action of his wife, Mekenzi, she was able to get him help quickly and take measures to keep him alive until the paramedics arrived and he was life flighted to Utah Valley Hospital which is a trauma one center.

Peter has been in the ICU, intubated, and in critical but stable condition until they could assemble a team of specialists to handle the trauma done by the gun shot. We almost lost him at 4pm yesterday, but again, quick thinking and response saved his life.

You will see the damage done by the shot in the 3D images that are attached below. The bullet missed his brain (thank God) and he has been responsive and can follow and respond to commands.

Peter was taken into surgery last night at 7:00 pm and returned to ICU at 6:00 am. A complex surgery was performed by a team of twelve specialists to reconstruct his face. Despite the extensive damage, they were successful in rebuilding Peter's bone structure, eye socket, and jaw using titanium plates and mesh. His eye was miraculously saved and reset, and while he lost several teeth, they will be replaced with implants in the future. Currently, his mouth is wired shut, he's on a feeding tube and a semi-permanent trachea has been installed to aid his breathing.

The doctors were just in and did a procedure to try and retrieve a tooth that was blown into his lungs by the blast. They were unsuccessful and will wait for it to dislodge to retrieve.

Despite these strides, there's still a long road to recovery. Peter is still in critical condition and will need to remain sedated with pain management for the foreseeable future. More surgeries will be required, but doctors believe a good recovery is possible with time. To say this will be a long and hard journey is an understatement. The recovery process will be extremely tough and they will need all the support, love and help we can give them.

Peter, being the main income source for his family, will be unable to work for at least a year. Without disability insurance, and with limited coverage from their medical insurance, they face insurmountable financial hardship and this tragic accident has fundamentally changed their lives. They will require a steadfast and supportive team to help get them through this. His wife, Mekenzi, will need to be able to be available to care for him on this long and complicated recovery so her ability and availability to work will be extremely limited.

The financial toll of this is unimaginable. Our healthcare system, despite its many virtues, fails to fully safeguard its patients from financial ruin. Peter's road to recovery stretches across countless days in ICU, months of rehabilitation, and an uncertain future. Their medical insurance will barely touch the costs of his medical care and they won't have income to make ends meet or cover their basic needs.

That's why we're setting up this GoFundMe campaign for Peter and Mekenzi. Every penny, every prayer, and every show of support will serve as a brick in the bridge that will help cary them through this time of hardship and uncertainty. Please donate if you can and share with others that you think may want to help.

Our collective love, support, and kindness can be their lifeline. As we continue to update you with their journey, let our prayers and wishes fill their hearts and strengthen their resolve.

This is not just their battle - it's ours too. Today, let's rally around Peter and Kenzi. Let's show them they're not alone, not now, not ever.

This fundraiser is now being handled and distributed by Mekenzi Sarbacker 8/10/2023 on behalf of Peter Sarbacker. Should any information come to light that is contrary to the original post, please contact Mekenzi and Peter Sarbacker only.  

Peter's 3D Images