Help with Justin Starkey's Emergency Medical Bills

Hello All,

Please help us raise $10,000 to help offset the emergency medical costs for Justin Starkey!

You all know Justin Starkey, CDA Youth Hockey Coach and Frontier Adult League hockey player.

Justin joined his teammates on the ice for a hockey tournament during Memorial Day weekend at Frontier Ice Arena. Following another players fall, Justin thought he had been hit in the calf with a hockey stick, but upon review of the ice rink videos he was hit with a hockey skate blade to the back of his calf. For a week Justin was unable to walk and put pressure on his right leg, it was turning colors and swollen. He went to Urgent Care where they gave him meds and sent him on his way to do a follow up ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed a hematoma, and ruled out a blood clot. Justin spent the next week resting and borrowed crutches and a wheelchair to make it possible to move around. He went in for red light therapy, shots, alternated ice and heat to get some relief to no avail. After attending a concert, Justin was in such pain that he threw up and subsequently fainted, prompting them to call 9-1-1 and he ended up in the emergency room. After an EKG, CT scan, another ultrasound, blood work and x ray, the doctor sent Justin home with a referral to follow up with the orthopedic office in a week, no rush to take care of any of his symptoms and no diagnosis besides the hematoma. Starkey had no diagnosis and he had no relief from the swelling, tenderness or inability to walk. The next day his wife Erika called the orthopedic office and told them he needed to be seen that day, and thankfully he was able to be seen within two hours.

Upon arrival and after talking with the doctor for a few minutes, he was confident Justin was suffering from Compartment Syndrome and needed emergency surgery to save his leg, at this point it was ten days post injury.

Justin had emergency surgery on June 3rd. After an hour and a half procedure, Dr. Blease was able to remove the hematoma and perform a fasciotomy, and unfortunately a portion of his calf muscle was removed that had died. The quick decision to perform surgery to save the rest of his muscle from necrosis. He is on the path to recovery now, but follow ups and physical therapy seem likely in the near future.

The family has appreciated everyone's help with the little nuances you take for granted: yard work, helping with our kids, cooking, cleaning, driving to appointments or picking up meds. It has been a long rough month without his mobility or ability to drive or take care of himself and their extended family and friends have helped tremendously and they are exceedingly grateful.

At this point Justin has had our post op two week visit and he needs another week with stitches. He will have another six week follow up and in the meantime Starkey will be using his boot and a cane to walk around and will have physical therapy in the near future. The surgery went well and he is on the road to healing and recovery.

Now comes the request for support for Starkey and his family. This accident has left the family with well over $30,000 in health care bills, and rising. Unfortunately, without medical insurance, the family is left to find ways to pay these bills. They have already sold a car and are looking to sell their boat as well to help cover the rising cost.

As part of the North Idaho Hockey Family, I ask you to consider a donation to help the family cover the cost. Starkey is a active player local hockey teams and a strong supporter and coach of youth hockey for the Coeur d'Alene Hockey Association. We are hoping to raise $10,000 to help the family offset some of the $40,000 or so that this accident will end up costing them.

Thank you for your support!