Support for Elmer Flying Horse’s Medical Cost

On September 23, 2023, our family was travelling home from Minot, ND to Newtown, ND after a day spending time with our children. Elmer, our two small children Connor and Cade, Elmer’s mom Ethelyn and sister Netta who were in town visiting and myself were in a serious accident.

We are thankful we all survived, but my husband Elmer was immediately flown out from Minot, ND to Billings, MT with a major spinal injury. The officers on scene stated Elmer’s quick reaction, his maneuvering of the vehicle, and seatbelts ultimately saved all of our lives, but by doing so he took the majority of the impact which caused him to have a dislocated neck and major injuries to his spine. After being flown to Billings, MT, my husband underwent a major 8 hour spinal operation to stabilize his spine and relocate his neck. While in the Billings Hospital my husband recieved several blisters from a lift belt that was left to rub his stomach (he is paralyzed and cannot feel his stomach) for two whole days. When they finally discovered the blisters, a pressure sore was found on his tailbone.

By the time the pressure sore was located, it had started to spread up Elmer's spine and began an infection that took three surgeries under Anesthesia. Once the infection was finally removed my husband was left with a deep wound that tunneled up his spine that was 8 inches deep, 8 inches wide becuase muscle, bone, and tissue all had to be removed in order to stop the infection from killing him.

This open wound caused my husband to have to remain in the medical center in Billings where care was absolutly horrible. We were finally able to move Elmer home to North Dakota in January where he spent five months in the Vibra Hospital. Because his woundcare was minimal and the wait for his surgery to have a flap placed over the wound at that time, was a ways off. Elmer was brought home for his woundcare for the last five weeks and now, he is finally looking at having surgery!

Elmer's surgery date is September 22nd, 2024 in Bismarck, ND. He will be having a skin flap placed over the remaining area of the wound that was caused by Billings Hospital. Once he has completed surgery he will remain in the hospital for recovery for four to six weeks. Once Elmer has healed enough to be released, he will be headed for Craig's Hospital for Physcial Therapy for approxamatly three months.

The medical neglect that my husband recieved from Billings Hospital has caused our family additional trauma and financial hardship in what was already a tramatic experience for Elmer and for his family. What should have been no more than a 30 day stay at the Billings Hospital turned into eleven months of torture with medical complications that did not exist before being taken to the Billings Clinic Hospital of Billings, MT.

Our family still has a long road ahead of us supporting Elmer during this critical time of healing and trying time of Physical Therapy. Craig's Hospital is known to be the best in the world and Elmer was on the top of the list to go due to his will and commitment that was seen by several PT staff. But that has been put on hold for nearly a year due to the medical neglect he has suffered.

Our family apprieciates all the love and support we have been shown from every direction and we thank those of you who have donated and will be donating, you are helping to eliviate a worry so that we may stay focused on the course at hand.

PhidámayayA,

Thank You,

Norma Flying Horse, Wife