Jesse Ferris & Steve Shirley's Recovery Fund
Donation protected
On August 30th, Jesse and Steve were victims of a head-on car crash resulting in near-fatal injuries.
Jesse was life-flighted to the hospital where she underwent immediate surgeries to save both her limbs and her life. When she arrived at the hospital she had no pulse in any of her limbs. She was sent into surgery with the idea that in order to save her life, she may need up to 3 amputations. Through many miracles, while in surgery her pulse began to return and she made it out with all of her limbs. Although she still has them, the damage to them was extensive. Both of her legs and her right arm were externally fixated until she could have the surgeries needed to repair them. She suffered compound fractures in her right arm and right leg. Rods, plates, and screws are now supporting her limbs. Antibiotic cement was put in her thigh as a placeholder for the bone that died. Her left arm and left leg were broken and needed surgery as well. Arms and legs aside, Jesse also had bleeding in her brain and 6 broken ribs. Within 12 days Jesse underwent 8 extensive surgeries. She was in the ICU for a total of 8 days before being transferred to the orthopedic unit of the hospital. Jesse will need her last surgery in a month. This last surgery will be to remove the antibiotic place-holding cement, and a bone graph from her hip will be mixed with cadaver bone and put into her thigh. She is unable to bear any weight for 4 - 7 months.
Steve was taken to the same hospital where an immediate surgery was performed on him to get his right femur externally fixated until he could have the surgery needed to more permanently repair it. He was unable to awaken from that permanent surgery due to aspirational pneumonia caused by the accident. That left him on a ventilator in ICU for a few days. We joke that he was trying to get closer to Jesse because that got him just a few doors from her. From there he needed an involved surgery on his right hand, wrist, and fingers. And he went for a surgery on his knee joint days later only to find it could not be performed due to infection that had set in. He's still waiting to be cleared of the infection, but the window of opportunity to have that surgery will be closed by the time he gets the all clear. His left foot was also broken, but in such a way that's irreparable. This leaves him with only his left arm able to bear any weight with.
The accident happened just 2 weeks before their wedding. Although the wedding had to be postponed, they are excited to recover so that they can tie the knot next year. Jesse is determined to be able to walk down the isle.
After a month in the hospital, Jesse and Steve were both moved to a long term rehab facility, where they both remain as of right now. The trauma from the surgeries has passed, but the recovery is just beginning. With Jesse and Steve both unable to work, we are hoping to relieve some of the financial burden they face regarding medical bills from 12 combined surgeries, extensive hospital and rehab stays, emergency transportation, and other unexpected costs that they are presented with.
We appreciate any support, even just a kind message. We will continue to update throughout their recovery journey.
Love,
The Ferris and Shirley Families
Jesse was life-flighted to the hospital where she underwent immediate surgeries to save both her limbs and her life. When she arrived at the hospital she had no pulse in any of her limbs. She was sent into surgery with the idea that in order to save her life, she may need up to 3 amputations. Through many miracles, while in surgery her pulse began to return and she made it out with all of her limbs. Although she still has them, the damage to them was extensive. Both of her legs and her right arm were externally fixated until she could have the surgeries needed to repair them. She suffered compound fractures in her right arm and right leg. Rods, plates, and screws are now supporting her limbs. Antibiotic cement was put in her thigh as a placeholder for the bone that died. Her left arm and left leg were broken and needed surgery as well. Arms and legs aside, Jesse also had bleeding in her brain and 6 broken ribs. Within 12 days Jesse underwent 8 extensive surgeries. She was in the ICU for a total of 8 days before being transferred to the orthopedic unit of the hospital. Jesse will need her last surgery in a month. This last surgery will be to remove the antibiotic place-holding cement, and a bone graph from her hip will be mixed with cadaver bone and put into her thigh. She is unable to bear any weight for 4 - 7 months.
Steve was taken to the same hospital where an immediate surgery was performed on him to get his right femur externally fixated until he could have the surgery needed to more permanently repair it. He was unable to awaken from that permanent surgery due to aspirational pneumonia caused by the accident. That left him on a ventilator in ICU for a few days. We joke that he was trying to get closer to Jesse because that got him just a few doors from her. From there he needed an involved surgery on his right hand, wrist, and fingers. And he went for a surgery on his knee joint days later only to find it could not be performed due to infection that had set in. He's still waiting to be cleared of the infection, but the window of opportunity to have that surgery will be closed by the time he gets the all clear. His left foot was also broken, but in such a way that's irreparable. This leaves him with only his left arm able to bear any weight with.
The accident happened just 2 weeks before their wedding. Although the wedding had to be postponed, they are excited to recover so that they can tie the knot next year. Jesse is determined to be able to walk down the isle.
After a month in the hospital, Jesse and Steve were both moved to a long term rehab facility, where they both remain as of right now. The trauma from the surgeries has passed, but the recovery is just beginning. With Jesse and Steve both unable to work, we are hoping to relieve some of the financial burden they face regarding medical bills from 12 combined surgeries, extensive hospital and rehab stays, emergency transportation, and other unexpected costs that they are presented with.
We appreciate any support, even just a kind message. We will continue to update throughout their recovery journey.
Love,
The Ferris and Shirley Families
Organizer and beneficiary
Brighton Aubrey Ferris
Organizer
Lake in the Hills, IL
Jesse Ferris
Beneficiary