My name is Michael “Viper” Highsmith, and I have created this fundraiser to help cover medical expenses for one of my long-term friends, a well-known referee from the last 30 years, who has volunteered and helped hundreds of people over the decades.

Reaching out for help is never easy, but sometimes life's challenges leave us with no other choice. While working as a Center Referee Paul “Warthog\Hoggy” Seiberlich sustained a Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury. This started a multiple cascading effect of physical, emotional, and mental injuries in all seven categories of his life. There is a 10-25% probability that each individual symptom in each category will be permanent. The physical, mental, emotional, plus f inancial losses have been tremendous to him.

Thirty-one medical professionals later, here we are today. He no longer will work in large stadiums, work semi-pro games, nor work important games, due to these injuries. Besides his Referee work, this Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury has also affected his first job, plus his personal life quite significantly.

Since the injury, Referee Mentors and he have both noticed that he suffered loss of endurance, loss of speed, and loss of focus. For four years, there was a loss of ability to predict play, but it’s now starting to get slightly better. Balance is sometimes still an issue as shown on this Aug 2025 Ring door video during his first job:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPJCe6RiaFkRQCzLfP5PqH6bH98Rxyq8lcCGk8YuPU4qHrFkqJBbj8gCDqnBMjXig/photo/AF1QipPMPZ8JamrUcgJS0DshxA0yQ47Z8YNyfgiuqH0?key=eXRKVnJHM2hLTUF4ODV2MTJKdzlFemFYUjZ0YVNR .

We are humbly asking for your support to help us navigate this difficult time. Your donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward covering medical bills, paying back bridge-loans to survive, healthier food, ensuring this referee gets the continuing proper medical care he needs, plus providing financial stability during this uncertain time. The cost of these bills has permanently impacted his life. Your help, no matter how small, would mean the world to him and provide peace of mind so he can focus on healing and treatment, not on the bills weighing heavy on his shoulders.

Your help would be greatly appreciated in spreading this fundraiser to other schools, teams, clubs, states, countries, platforms, groups, and websites, not only on your page, but other people’s pages also. (X, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, and more) Thank you for your help.

As of August 2025, this is what the next five years (or lifetime) will mean for Paul. Potential Future insurance rate 600\mo. * 12 = 7,200\yr. 7,200 * 5yrs = 36,000 Past Medications: 2,400 Future Medications: 2,400 ($10\wk, $40\mo, $480\yr *5yrs = $2,400 copay.) Repay Bridge Loan 1: $3,000 Repay Bridge Loan 2: $2,225 Out of Network: Dr #1 $200 + Dr #2 $175 = $375\wk. $18,750\yr *5yrs = $93,750. Total: $139,775.