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Help Troy Find His Voice

My name is Bonny Hicks.  I am a licensed Adult Care Home Administrator.  A couple of years ago I had the privilege to serve a young man who was residing in the home where I was working.  He had been living in the nursing home for several years at that time.

                                Troy before the accident

His name is Troy Goff.  Today he is 36 years old.  Troy is bedridden most of the day.  He has an electric wheelchair that he can operate with the fingers of his left hand.  The rest of his body is immobile.  He uses his wheelchair to go to and from meals most days.  He is totally dependent on others for all of his daily needs.

              Troy and his son, Ethan before the accident

On May 4, 2012, as a new chapter was opening for him, Troy was involved in a traffic accident.  He had just purchased a new home for himself and his son.  A new possible love had entered his life and he was excited for the future.
On that day, a ride on his motorcycle with the uncharacteristic decision to go without his helmet....a truck pulls out in front of him and in that instant, everything in Troy's life changed.

He was life flighted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Ks.  He was in a coma for about a month and was then transferred to Modonna Rehab in Lincoln, NE.
Troy suffered a broken femur in his right leg, a broken clavical and a tramatic brain injury.

Troy is unable to communicate but for a few words and gestures.  Understandably, he is often frustrated and depressed.  It is not unusual, when a need or desire cannot be communicated, it remains unmet.  His thoughts for the most part remain trapped in his head.

                            Troy with visitors in his room

Troy is reliant on state funding for his care.  While I was working with him, we did get an assessment and a few hours of therapy paid for, but the state is not prepared to pay for all of the services he needs.  During the services we could provide, with the help of an I-pad and intense one on one interaction, Troy was able to form a few words! 
However, therapy is expensive and it will take months of intensive services to find the format that will work for Troy and to provide the appropriate equipment necessary to help him share his thoughts.  The technology is available.  (If Stephen Hawking can communicate, I know there must be a way for Troy!)

                                           Ethan and Troy

Troy's wonderful Mother, Sister and all of his family are providing loving care for his son but are without the means to provide the huge cost of the therapy and equipment necessary to help free Troy.

The exact cost of what Troy will need is unknown but I do know that it will take hours and months and lots of trial and error to find a method that will help Troy communicate.  With that ultimate goal in mind, I also know that having intense, one-on-one treatment will also impact his overall happiness and satisfaction.

                                           Dancing!

Please share Troy's story  with all of your friends and give whatever you can.   Together, we can help Troy to find his voice.
Donate

Donations 

  • Mark Cowin
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
  • A Nonymous
    • $2,000 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Bonny Hicks
    • $150 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Bonny Hicks
Organizer
Emporia, KS

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