JJ Haws, beloved father of our two kiddos, my husband, deeply rooted in the Standardbred harness racehorse industry, to many an old school Midwest rave promoter, and longtime small business owner of Meme-tech.com, suffered a life altering fall from a new 25-foot ladder while doing something simple and loving: hanging a backyard swing for our kids. The ladder snapped beneath him. Our daughter Jo’s ink wasn’t dry on her lifeguard certification and her reflexes kicked in when she watched her Dad fall. Kid sister Clara, directed EMS like she was born holding a battle map. Me? I rushed home from a job site to find the ambulance preparing to whisk JJ off to University of Louisville Hospital.

JJ’s fall caused devastating injuries: burst and compound fractures in his spine, a shattered ankle, and complex fractures to his leg. His injuries required an emergency spinal fusion surgery from L1-L5, and two surgeries to stabilize and repair his ankle and leg. He remained under the care of UofL Hospital, rehab at Frazier Rehab, for over a month. He has had a second surgery to repair his ankle and leg with more metal plates and screws. Recovery’s a slow, ugly grind, nerves flickering like a bad amp, his body rewiring itself note by screaming note.

Today, we are grateful to share he is at home, soaking in the love of his family. It isn’t without its challenges though. Our trilevel home? Stairs can be slicker than a dive bar floor at last call, what handrails we do have, as sturdy as grabbing the arm of a toddler learning to walk. All this is if he is able to manage stairs. It is a death trap for a man learning to walk again. While home is the best medicine, it’s overwhelming how much is yet to be done during JJ’s recovery. So many have pitched in these first weeks to prepare the ground floor JJ now shares with my disabled sister Leslie. JJ and I are eternally grateful; and more is needed.

Unfortunately, the ladder was purchased from an online service provider, which isn’t deemed a “retailer” thus skirts product strict liability law and any recourse we might have. The financial weight, even with health insurance, is daunting.

This is it.

JJ needs the help he’s always given others.