Austin's Accident Emergency Christmas Fund

On December 4th, 2021-- what was supposed to be just another weekend of Christmas decorating and prepping for exams - Austin was rushed in an ambulance to St. Joseph’s Children's Hospital in Florida.

He’d taken his bike out for a short ride through the neighborhood when he suddenly slid on a gravel road and fell hard. On any other day, this tough little boy would’ve got up and kept riding, but the bike brakes beneath him had penetrated his stomach.

My baby brother was rushed to the hospital, with my mom beside him in the ambulance. He was so scared, but also incredibly brave and even managed to crack a smile as the doctors joked about his very first battle scars.

His doctors quickly got the wound under control and he seemed like he was going to be okay. Austin was sitting up in the hospital bed and talking to his mom when he suddenly stopped breathing. The doctors called a code and people rushed into the room, telling our mom she needed to back out as they intubated him.

She called later that evening, while Austin was sleeping upstairs in the ICU. He looked so small and so tired, still intubated and hooked up to a ventilator. Seeing him so vulnerable and scared has been really hard on us all emotionally, and thankfully the doctors gave him some meds to help him sleep and not panic.

They removed the intubation tube and took him off the ventilator the next day, but he was exhausted and sad. He’s currently stable, but pretty shaken up and fixated on the costs of his hospital stay.

How do you convince a 12-year old that their health is all that matters when they’re so distressed about money? It’s not good for his little systems, especially as his body tries to heal.

Unfortunately, money has always been a touchy subject, which is why he’s so preoccupied. Our mom, his primary caretaker, lives off a teacher's salary in Florida, and her husband is a heart patient. They live within their means but it’s still hard to get by.

Austin’s health is all that matters, and the last thing he should be worrying about is the cost of his hospital bills. I’m hoping that with Christmas coming up, we can show him that money doesn’t have to be a source of stress and negativity. He should never have to feel guilty about getting the healthcare he needs, for an accident that could’ve happened to anyone.

With Christmas coming up, I just want to take this burden off my baby brother. Contributions will go straight to my mom so she can pay his hospital bills. I know it’s a big ask, but I’m hoping that the holiday spirit will help get us there.

Any relief of pressure we can take off our mom right now would be a godsend, and anything you can give is so appreciated. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas. I’ll add updates whenever I can.