On July 22, Tom was in a work related accident in which he was thrown from a ladder, being knocked unconscious. He was taken via ambulance to Bryan West where he underwent many tests in both the ER and the ICU. They discovered he had experienced a traumatic brain injury and 6 broken ribs, some broke in more than one place. He would spend the next few days in the hospital having more tests done and surgery to plate 5 of the 6 ribs back together for a quicker recovery period. He was released to go home on July 24, but his road to recovery had still only begun. Several weeks after surgery, when the Staples were removed, Tom was told it would still be 8-12 weeks before he could lift anything over 20 lbs. The one rib that wasn't able to be plated due to the location of it still causes him pain. However, the most crucial issue to this day, 9 weeks later, he is still suffering affects from his traumatic brain injury. He has double vision, some tunnel vision, and gets confused sometimes. He says it looks like looking through a kaleidoscope, which makes the simplest tasks, like eating or even walking, difficult. It is not known when these affects will wear off, if ever. He is going to therapy regularly and has been undergoing even more tests to see if they can find out any more about the extent of the damage done. He is used to being the main provider for him and Cindy and it is not easy for him to be unable to work. Tom is self employed so is unable to receive disability. Cindy has also been left unable to work much herself as Tom needs assistance during the day to day life. It has been a difficult and frustrating time trying to navigate their way through this recovery. This page has been created to raise funds to help ease the financial stress of the last 9 weeks and to help pay the hospital and medical bills that will follow. If you can donate or share this fundraiser it would be greatly appreciated by all of the Patton family. Thank you!