Hello friends, family, and loved ones,

My name is Ali, and I’m one of the children of our loving 79-year-old father, Gary Kent. My three siblings and I are sharing this because our dad was involved in a devastating, near-fatal car accident on May 15th, and we would be grateful for any support from our community.

Gary was pulling out of a grocery store parking lot when his car was struck on the driver’s side. The impact totaled his vehicle and left him with life-threatening injuries.

Dad suffered a fractured hip, 12 broken ribs, a pelvis fractured in three places, two fractured vertebrae in his lower back, and a small brain hemorrhage. His broken ribs punctured his left lung, causing severe internal bleeding. On his first night in the hospital, surgeons had to perform an emergency thoracotomy to stop the bleeding and save his life.

He spent six days in the ICU and has remained hospitalized in TRACU since then. Doctors initially hoped to perform surgery to stabilize his pelvis, but it became increasingly clear that his body could not tolerate such a major procedure.

The road ahead is uncertain. We are heartbroken by the severity of his injuries and the unknowns surrounding his recovery, mobility, and long-term quality of life. Our family is doing everything we can to support him and our mom as they navigate this incredibly difficult situation.

Many people have asked how they can help. Funds raised through this fundraiser will be managed by Gary’s children and used for practical family-support needs surrounding Dad’s hospitalization and recovery. Things like reliable transportation for Mom and family, groceries and household stuff, home safety and cleanup needs, caregiving-related expenses, transportation to and from hospital visits, and legal or administrative guidance as we navigate insurance, benefits, and accident-related decisions.

We will be handling hospital billing, insurance, and any medical-financial assistance processes separately. This fundraiser is intended to help keep Mom supported and the household stable while our family responds to this crisis.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Dad in your heart means so much to us as well.

Thank you for your love, support, and kindness. We are deeply grateful for the incredible community surrounding our family.

With gratitude,

Ali, on behalf of Gary Kent’s family