Help Ethan and his family heal

Hi, my name is Maria. I’m organizing this GoFundMe on behalf of my boyfriend, Ethan Guillot, and his family. On August 6th, 2023, we received news that nobody ever wishes to hear - our loved one had been in a serious accident.

Ethan had been riding his motorcycle alongside our good friend, Harrison. They drove up a familiar road in the Upper Mission area of Kelowna. With Ethan in the lead, it is believed that he saw a rock wall ahead, braked, and lost control of his bike due to loose rocks on the road. He was not riding recklessly. In the past year, he took up biking as a new interest and invested time and money into a motorcycle safety course, quality gear, and practiced great caution when on the road. When Ethan lost control of his bike, his body went flying toward the rock wall. First responders acted quickly to get him to Kelowna General Hospital where he underwent surgery to straighten his broken femur. I wish that were the end of his injuries, but it's not. Ethan endured damage to his kidney and liver, broke several vertebrae, and is possibly facing surgery to remove his spleen in response to internal bleeding. Days after the incident, he went for an MRI and it was found that he suffered from a traumatic brain injury. He will have to relearn how to walk, eat, and many other basic skills that we often take for granted. To spare Ethan from pain and to give his body a break, he has been put on heavy sedatives and put on a breathing tube since the day of his incident. Several attempts to lower sedation and get him to breathe on his own have been unsuccessful. On August 12th, he was given a tracheotomy. With each passing day, there have been steps forward as well as pushbacks in his recovery. It is projected that he will remain in the ICU for an extended period of time. There will be many months if not years -of recovery to follow. Due to the nature of his brain injury, Ethan will require a great deal of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, equipment, neurocognitive rehab, counseling, and medications. Which, as a student working his way through school, he does not have benefits to pay for. After discharge from the hospital, his house may require renovations to accommodate his recovery. We remain hopeful that with enough time and care - Ethan will open his eyes and fill the room with his bright laughter again.

At the time of his accident, his mom, Leigh, was on the 3rd day of her vacation to Greece. She flew back to Canada as soon as she heard the news to be at Ethan's side.

As a result of this accident, Ethan will be unable to attend school for a very long time. Exceptionally bright, Ethan achieved Dean's List for all 5 semesters at Okanagan College. From there, he transferred to UBCO to pursue his Bachelor's in Science. His dream is to instill a love for learning in future students by becoming a university professor. He would have started his 4th year in just a few weeks.

Anyone who has ever known Ethan can attest to his strong passion for bartending, weightlifting, and people. He is the kindest person you will ever meet. Whether you're sitting at his bar or you're sitting next to him in a lecture, Ethan will go above and beyond to make you feel acknowledged and cared for.

If Ethan has ever touched your life in some way, please consider supporting his recovery and transition back into a healthy life whether that be through a donation or sharing this fundraiser.

Funds will be managed by his mother, Leigh Thomas.

Thank you to everyone who has offered their support during this challenging time.