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If you've ever met Harry and Jan Vorderbrug, you've known them as a wonderful, loving couple full of kindness and good humor, with a deep passion and caring for other people; especially those lucky enough to be called friends or family.
On December 30th of 2016 they celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. February 14th 2017 would have marked a happy 58th Valentine's Day for the loving couple, instead it nearly ended in tragedy.
While making the same routine turn at the traffic light a block from their home on Hickory St. onto Tyndall Parkway the Vorderbrug's vehicle was T-boned by a pickup truck. Their vehicle was pushed sideways leaving the only skid marks on the road, and rolled over, eventually coming to rest upside down. The damage to their vehicle was horrific. The damage to the Vorderbrugs’ themselves was even worse.

Both Harry and Jan were unresponsive at the scene. Harry (an Air Force Veteran) suffered a shattered hip and pelvis as well as two broken ribs. He had to be cut from the car, by the brave men of Parker Fire and Rescue; an endeavor which, due to the severity of the impact, almost cost him his leg. Jan had four broken ribs. Worse, they both suffered tremendous blows to the head, resulting in serious brain trauma.
The police estimated the truck driver’s speed at 35 mph, 10 miles under the posted speed limit. Sadly the states intersection camera was not set to record.

Harry's recovery so far: Harry had to undergo a massive reconstructive surgery on his hip and pelvis. He did not speak or open his eyes for some time. He later developed blood clots in his legs. On March 7th, he failed a swallow evaluation and had to have a peg tube inserted into his stomach for feeding. On March 19th, he left Bay Medical, still unable to walk, but cleared to eat, although still using the peg tube as well, he was moved to HealthSouth for Rehab.
The morning of March 21st he was found unresponsive and returned to Bay medical ICU with aspirational pneumonia and sepsis, he was give less than a 40% chance to survive.
Harry is now able to stand with assistance. He has been discharged to a new rehab facility after another trip to Bay Medical.

Jan's recovery so far: Jan's physical damage was not nearly as severe, but it would be over a month before she was able to walk with the aid of a walker. She was moved to HealthSouth were she found dramatic physical improvement, but once again the massive brain trauma from the accident has left a long road towards recovery.

The Recommended Treatment: Both Harry and Jan need serious speech and occupational therapy, and 24/7 care.
The Funds will be used for the purposes of:
Health expenses: Although not massive at this time, by any means, there have been medical costs incurred already. The medical costs, which are mostly paid, have exceeded $1,000,000.00 most was covered by insurance but we continue to recieve bills approximately $10,000.00 still needed.
Legal expenses:
Jan and Harry are still being sued by the driver of the white truck that struck them and may need some additional funds for defense.
Also, we are still encountering issues with local authories on trying to obtain information relating to the accident which will require an attourney
estimated Legal Exspenses $15,000.00.

Hopeful return home: Although our initial hope was to return them to home, that is not possible. They are happy and in a good place receiving excellent care but requiring daily visit from myself for two or three hours a day.
• Help does not have to come in the form of money, but funds are needed: Help can also be things that might spark a memory, so if you know the Vorderbrugs or feel that they might remember you, feel free to send a card or a letter, include pictures and perhaps a favorite story of times you spent together, or memorabilia of shared life events. All these things can help as well, and can be extremely important to recovery from brain injuries. Please contact me directly for an address.
Our ultimate hope: We wish nothing more than to allow Harry and Jan to live out the rest of their lives together and in comfort hopefully with a feeling that they have had their right to due proces upheld, and for this we humbly ask for your kind assistance.

• Crash scene photos kindly provided by our heroes at the Parker Fire Department, without whom we would not have Harry and Jan at this moment.
• The above photo is credited to Angelina Bellebuono, from Lake Oconee Living, winter 2007. Thank you very much!
We will update this site on occasion with progress reports and photographs. All persons donating will receive our unwavering respect and undying gratitude!
• This is a soft estimate of expenses that could increase as future needs change -
Thank you,
Brice Vorderbrug, and family.
On December 30th of 2016 they celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. February 14th 2017 would have marked a happy 58th Valentine's Day for the loving couple, instead it nearly ended in tragedy.
While making the same routine turn at the traffic light a block from their home on Hickory St. onto Tyndall Parkway the Vorderbrug's vehicle was T-boned by a pickup truck. Their vehicle was pushed sideways leaving the only skid marks on the road, and rolled over, eventually coming to rest upside down. The damage to their vehicle was horrific. The damage to the Vorderbrugs’ themselves was even worse.
Both Harry and Jan were unresponsive at the scene. Harry (an Air Force Veteran) suffered a shattered hip and pelvis as well as two broken ribs. He had to be cut from the car, by the brave men of Parker Fire and Rescue; an endeavor which, due to the severity of the impact, almost cost him his leg. Jan had four broken ribs. Worse, they both suffered tremendous blows to the head, resulting in serious brain trauma.
The police estimated the truck driver’s speed at 35 mph, 10 miles under the posted speed limit. Sadly the states intersection camera was not set to record.
Harry's recovery so far: Harry had to undergo a massive reconstructive surgery on his hip and pelvis. He did not speak or open his eyes for some time. He later developed blood clots in his legs. On March 7th, he failed a swallow evaluation and had to have a peg tube inserted into his stomach for feeding. On March 19th, he left Bay Medical, still unable to walk, but cleared to eat, although still using the peg tube as well, he was moved to HealthSouth for Rehab.
The morning of March 21st he was found unresponsive and returned to Bay medical ICU with aspirational pneumonia and sepsis, he was give less than a 40% chance to survive.
Harry is now able to stand with assistance. He has been discharged to a new rehab facility after another trip to Bay Medical.
Jan's recovery so far: Jan's physical damage was not nearly as severe, but it would be over a month before she was able to walk with the aid of a walker. She was moved to HealthSouth were she found dramatic physical improvement, but once again the massive brain trauma from the accident has left a long road towards recovery.
The Recommended Treatment: Both Harry and Jan need serious speech and occupational therapy, and 24/7 care.
The Funds will be used for the purposes of:
Health expenses: Although not massive at this time, by any means, there have been medical costs incurred already. The medical costs, which are mostly paid, have exceeded $1,000,000.00 most was covered by insurance but we continue to recieve bills approximately $10,000.00 still needed.
Legal expenses:
Jan and Harry are still being sued by the driver of the white truck that struck them and may need some additional funds for defense.
Also, we are still encountering issues with local authories on trying to obtain information relating to the accident which will require an attourney
estimated Legal Exspenses $15,000.00.
Hopeful return home: Although our initial hope was to return them to home, that is not possible. They are happy and in a good place receiving excellent care but requiring daily visit from myself for two or three hours a day.
• Help does not have to come in the form of money, but funds are needed: Help can also be things that might spark a memory, so if you know the Vorderbrugs or feel that they might remember you, feel free to send a card or a letter, include pictures and perhaps a favorite story of times you spent together, or memorabilia of shared life events. All these things can help as well, and can be extremely important to recovery from brain injuries. Please contact me directly for an address.
Our ultimate hope: We wish nothing more than to allow Harry and Jan to live out the rest of their lives together and in comfort hopefully with a feeling that they have had their right to due proces upheld, and for this we humbly ask for your kind assistance.
• Crash scene photos kindly provided by our heroes at the Parker Fire Department, without whom we would not have Harry and Jan at this moment.
• The above photo is credited to Angelina Bellebuono, from Lake Oconee Living, winter 2007. Thank you very much!
We will update this site on occasion with progress reports and photographs. All persons donating will receive our unwavering respect and undying gratitude!
• This is a soft estimate of expenses that could increase as future needs change -
Thank you,
Brice Vorderbrug, and family.