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Help Tom Find Life Beyond Brain Injury

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Tom Hapka, traumatic brain injury survivor.


I am raising money for Tom Hapka, whose life was devastated by a brain injury that occurred during a chiropractic appointment. The appointment was supposed to be a routine adjustment, but Tom's life was torn apart in a matter of seconds. My heart is broken for the injustice Tom has experienced and the effect it has had on his life.

Tom's Shocking Story

Tom suffered a massive, life-threatening brain injury when a chiropractor tore an artery in his neck. The chiropractor then abandoned Tom on the office floor, incapacitated and seriously injured, for over two hours before calling 911. Tom's condition was then misdiagnosed as an ear infection at the emergency room. The ER doctor did not conduct any neurological exams or brain scans, and he sent Tom home with a dangerously swollen, bleeding brain.

For 48 hours, Tom was without medical care, clinging to life as his damaged brain continued to bleed and swell. When Tom's family realized he had something much worse than an ear infection, they rushed him back to the hospital where he was misdiagnosed again. Through all of this, the bleeding and swelling in Tom's brain continued unchecked as more and more damage occurred.

Tom and his family were financially ruined by the aftermath of this devastating injury, but Tom received no settlement or justice in court, despite conclusive proof the chiropractor had injured him and the ER misdiagnosis had further jeopardized his life.

Today, Tom faces the possibility of being homeless, and he still has major physical impairments that impact his quality of life each day. However, with the right help, Tom's condition can greatly improve and he can become independent again.

Support Tom
Tom will never be the same person he was just minutes before the injury, but with your support, there is hope for his future! Your donation will contribute to the following areas of Tom's life.

Medical Needs:
Tom's medical and other expenses from his injury have been staggering. He will also need more care going forward, including extensive neurological and physical rehab, as well as highly specialized optical rehab to help regulate his visual deficits.

Financial Security:
Tom's brain injury ended his IT career, and he missed out on years of wages. With great effort, Tom managed to hold down some part-time jobs with relatively low wages - nowhere near enough to make up for his sizable lost wages and massive medical expenses.

Immediate Needs:
This injury devastated Tom's family. His elderly parents drained their savings to help provide for his immediate needs, but they have no more resources left. The family's home could be lost to the county, and Tom needs help to assure his future and keep a roof over his head.

Tom is determined to build a sustainable future for himself and regain his independence. He is a highly skilled writer, and he hopes to launch a publishing house and generate income through his books. Most importantly, he wants to become a voice for other brain injury survivors as a professional spokesperson. Your donation will help Tom rebuild his life and pursue these goals in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about Tom's injury, the effect it has had on his life, or where your donation will go, please watch the attached video or visit lifebeyondbraininjury.org.

Organizer and beneficiary

Emily Hinrichsen
Organizer
Minonk, IL
Thomas Hapka
Beneficiary

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