Fundraising for Mike Smith

 

Sadly, our very good friend Mike and his wife Jude were subjected to a violent robbery in their home last year, rendering Mike with life altering injuries, leaving him unable to walk, talk or use his right arm.

 

At the end of November 2021, whilst at home with his wife Judith, Mike was attacked by an intruder during an aggravated burglary and sustained a serious head injury. On the evening of the robbery, the intruder smashed Mike’s skull with a metal bracket rendering Mike helpless as the burglar continued to force Jude to hand over money and their car keys. The burglar then insisted Jude take him out to the carpark so that he could identify and steal their car. As you can imagine this was a harrowing experience, in addition their lives have been turned upside down with Mike’s injuries.

 

Mike spent many weeks at Leeds General Infirmary and was then moved to Airedale Hospital to begin his rehabilitation. After spending almost 6 months in hospital, Mike has now been discharged and begins a very difficult journey to transition back home and to his life.

 

Unfortunately, Mike has been left wheelchair bound and will require the help of carers, twice a day for the foreseeable future. The trauma to Mike's skull has caused him to suffer with Dyspraxia and Aphasia. Asphasia is a very isolating condition which has meant that Mike cannot remember words or speak clearly making communicating very difficult. Through no fault of their own Mike and Jude have been forced to leave their home and relocate to temporary accommodation which is wheelchair accessible.

 

Even though Mike will undergo physiotherapy to help improve his mobility and speech, there are no guarantees that these will ever improve. To assist with his rehabilitation, we are raising money so that equipment can be purchased to assist with Mike’s quality of life, which has been so drastically impaired due to this violent and unprovoked attack.

 

We would like to raise this money to get Mike and Jude started with the costs towards mobility aids/equipment, specialist speech therapy and physio. 

Mike and Jude are very humble and modest and have put an incredibly brave face on throughout all of this. Please help us to make sure they have all the equipment they need to help them on this daunting journey.