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#JOSHSTRONG - 19 yrs old - traumatic brain injury

Lori Golden is organizing this fundraiser.
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Help for Josh Balsterholt
 
On December 17th, 2021, my son and two nephews were hit by another driver (going 119 mph on Raiders Way (speed limit 45) in Henderson, NV.
 
My son, Corey, 21 and my nephew Jake, 21 were released with injuries from the hospital within a few days. Corey had a broken cervical vertebra (neck) and an acute concussion. Jake had a severe gash on his leg, a hematoma, and back injuries that are still causing problems 2+ months later. Corey is also back in the hospital dealing with complications. But the driver of our car, my youngest nephew Josh, 19, is still suffering from severe traumatic brain injuries today. He has been in UMC Hospital for almost 70 days.
 
Several factors interfere with our ability to obtain the best possible care for Josh, suffering from severe life-altering traumatic DAI brain injuries.
 
The driver who hit them was going 119 on Raiders Way (speed limit 45.) The family and vehicle were under-insured - meaning they were insured to cover the state minimum requirements for liability and personal injury. As a result, there is almost no money to cover the severity of Josh’s injuries and the specialized care he needs. Also, the passenger in the car with the speeding boy, is also suing for damages from the tiny pot of bodily injury money available through the insurance claim. Taking away from the limited funds that will care for Josh, the one with life-altering injuries and coming out of a coma.
 
This stretch of Raiders Way is a hazard due to the lack of traffic signals and signs. There is a long stretch from light to light with no stop signs, allowing drivers to hit excessive speeds and create a dangerous situation. https://www.8newsnow.com/sports/lasvegas-raiders/raiders-way-has-become-a-little-bit-of-a-racetrack-hit-and-run-involving-another-player-revealed/ - see retired Henderson officer's comments.
 
My sister and her sons are Medicaid recipients and have no financial resources at all to provide the specialized care Josh needs.
 

The cost of TBI recovery over time can run anywhere between $85k and $3 million and with 70 days at UMC and more than half of that on the trauma unit…we have far surpassed the low end already. We have a long road ahead and we need help to ensure he has a fighting chance to recover and regain some quality of life. We know miracles have happened but we need access to the right care along with our unending faith. 

There is a very reputable brain injury rehab center in Colorado called Craig - Josh is not eligible for care at Craig due to his limited insurance and resources - but this is a place that has yielded extremely successful results for people like my nephew with similar injuries.
 
Josh needs extended long term specialized care - every single facility in the valley has rejected him and while he is still at UMC today (70 days later) my sister who has zero medical training, may be expected to take him home and care for him while incapacitated, on a ventilator, a feeding tube, a catheter, etc. - due to HPN, Medicaid and the LTC facilities, like Kindred. This would be considered an unsafe discharge.
 
We are outraged at the lack of compassion and care that we can access for my nephew.

My nephew Josh is a college student who was born and raised in Henderson, NV - played baseball and other sports and was an all-around upstanding young man in the community. He also had a thriving sneaker business and was mentioned in the following Yahoo article https://www.yahoo.com/now/top-10-sneaker-businesses-watch-201100121.html
 
I adore my nephew and he deserves the best care possible. I am confident anyone who has ever encountered him would agree. Our entire family is devastated by his absence. We just want to talk to him and laugh with him again.
 
For additional information or to reach the family please contact;
 
Lori Golden
via the GoFundMe link
 
 
Relevant media coverage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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    Lori Golden
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    Henderson, NV
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