William The Conqueror

Chrissy Kie is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

William (Bill) is a retired RCMP officer who gave 23 years of RCMP service at Vancouver International Airport Detachment. A husband of 40 years (married to Karen). A father to two daughters. A Papa to three granddaughters and a grandson. He is a brother. A brother-in-law, a son-in-law, an uncle and a friend to many.

He is a hero. His career with the RCMP made him a hero but then he was OUR hero...as Daddy's often are to their little girls. He is my Mom's (Karen) everything. And watching him battle for his life over these past 9 months has only made us love and admire him even more- if that were even possible.

On the morning of July 5th, 2018, my Dad William's life was forever changed. Dad went in for a routine triple bypass heart surgery and somehow emerged a quadriplegic. He woke up and realized that he couldn't move his arms or legs and the doctors and nurses began to try to figure out what was going on. Dad was taken in for an MRI where they found a C4-5 disc herniation with spinal fluid leaking into the spinal column. He was then rushed in for emergency spinal surgery where they removed the disc and fused a spacer to his vertebrae. Dad's life would never be the same.

In the weeks and months that followed, Dad was forced to try to recover from a triple bypass and spinal surgery, while coming to terms with his new diagnosis as a C4-5 incomplete quadriplegic. He ended up receiving a tracheostomy and he required a ventilator to breathe. He ended up battling pnemonia twice, which resulted in a few code blues called while he struggled for oxygen, as the pnemonia and paralysis took its toll. On top of this, Dad suffered numerous life-threatening stomach bleeds which required yet more emergency surgeries and blood transfusions.

There were times when the doctors told us they didn't know if he was going to make it; that his kidneys were shutting down, that he may need the tracheostomy the rest of his life, that he may never get to eat actual food again. But against all odds, Dad fought back and proved them wrong over and over again.

Dad kept up his fight and made it from Royal Columbian Hospital to GF Strong where he has been in rehabilitation for the past 4 months. The time has come where he must face these new life challenges the best that he can. Mom and Dad were forced to sell their 3 level home and buy a condo that would suit the accessibility and needs of a quadriplegic.

Most people who have suffered the tragedy of a spinal cord injury have a claim through WCB or ICBC, where monetary assistance is a given. Dad's injury does not fall under either of those categories, and therefore the sole monetary burden has fallen directly on Mom and Dad.

While medical does partially cover the cost of some things, the costs are unyielding and ever-growing. Dad requires a power wheelchair, overhead lift and slings, hospital bed, commode, mattress, CPAP machine and mask, not to mention the accessibility renovations to their condo, newer tech items to help Dad in his independence, and a vehicle that dad can be transported in. The $50,000 goal is merely a jumping off point, as we anticipate the associated costs to be at least three times that, as there is still home nurse costs to think about, among other things.

Please, if you can find it in your hearts to help take the weight of this burden off of Dad and Mom we would be forever grateful. Please help us get Dad the basic living essentials he needs in order to begin to rebuild a life reminiscent of the life he has lived. Together with your support we can get Dad home to Mom where they can learn to live this new life together. Thank you!