Help Paul Recover from Electrocution

Paul Roberts was electrocuted on 8/20/22 and unbelievably, survived. I've been lucky enough to be one of Paul's closest friends for the last 46 years and will recount the terrible tragedy in an attempt to help raise money for his medical bills and future living expenses.

Paul, 70 years old, had the uncanny ability to make everyone feel like his best friend. He was the least materialistic person I've known and worked like a dog for minimal wages, just so he would feel like he was "doing right by people". Living by the ocean made it easy for Paul to surf, fish, and scuba dive yet left him time to not only work hard but always take time to help an underdog or friend. Paul was also an avid martial artist.

Unfortunately, while cutting a tree branch this summer, Paul was electrocuted by a live, primary wire at the top of a utility pole. He was being electrocuted for approximately 20 minutes with his body literally in flames when the police arrived. When the power was turned off, he fell 25 feet from a bucket and suffered devastating injuries including 4th and 5th-degree burns over 40% of his body.

Struggling to keep him alive, he was rushed to Jersey Shore Trauma Center, placed into a medically induced coma, and flown to Crozer Burn Center in Philadelphia. After several weeks, he emerged from his coma and was transferred to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where his right leg was amputated below the knee due to charred bone. His left shoulder joint was removed due to severe burns and fear of infection. Additionally, his left ear was amputated due to severe burns. Paul suffered a fractured arm which required the insertion of a metal rod, a fractured left hip which is now pinned, and visual impairment. From Penn Presbyterian, he went to St. Barnabas Burn Center to treat his severe burns. Paul suffered major burns to both arms, legs, back, neck, and left side of his face and lips.

Having once been a free spirit, he is now in a hospital bed in constant severe pain. At this time, it is still difficult for Paul to get out of bed because the Hoyer lift needed to lift him out of bed, severely irritates his burned skin. Paul has endured multiple skin grafts.

Medicare has recently terminated his acute care forcing him into a sub-acute facility that is ill-equipped to sufficiently deal with his medical needs. The therapy he was getting while in an acute care setting has now been decreased from 3 hours a day to 45 minutes a day.

Although not yet ready for a prosthesis, he will eventually require one to walk. This in and of itself is problematic because without a left shoulder joint, he cannot weight bear on his left side to aid him in learning to walk with a right-sided prosthetic.

Paul has and will continue to have extensive medical costs not covered by Medicare. He will need home renovations and most probably will never return to gainful employment. There is no worker's compensation available due to the fact that this did not occur while he was in the course of his employment.

PLEASE DONATE AS GENEROUSLY AS POSSIBLE AND PLEASE SHARE THIS STORY AND PLEA FOR HELP WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.