Help Eli McSpaden Recover - Spinal Cord Injury

Help Eli McSpaden Recover - Spinal Cord Injury

On the evening of August 9, 2020, Eli McSpaden (a 2019 West Albany High School Graduate) ate dinner with his family, dropped off his sister at an Aunt’s house, and went down to say goodbye to his buddies at the Courtesy Corner Shell Station, where he had worked for the past year.  At about 9:00 PM that evening, just minutes after he filled up his car with gas - his life changed forever in a terrible car accident that left him seriously injured with a collapsed lung, several broken ribs and fractured femur, and a spinal cord injury resulting in no feeling or movement below his hips.

On August 10th (the day after his accident), Eli was scheduled to start a new job in sales with B&R Auto Wrecking - a job he hopes to return to following his recovery and return to independence. Many thanks to the B&R Auto Wrecking team for their care and support during this difficult time.

In the days following his accident, Eli received treatment in the ICU at Albany General Hospital and at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, Oregon.  On August 21st, Eli and family travelled by Air Medical Transport to the Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado (just outside of Denver) - https://craighospital.org/ .  The Craig Hospital specializes in treating patients with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. 

In-patient Rehab therapy/treatment for Eli’s Spinal Cord Injury - currently classified as a T-10 A (Complete) injury - began on August 24th and is expected to continue until his discharge in mid-October 2020, when he will either continue his rehab as an outpatient at Craig Hospital or will return to Oregon for outpatient rehab services at a location closer to his family’s home in Albany, Oregon.

Eli (20) was a varsity football player and multi-sport athlete at West Albany High School, and remained active and physically fit following his 2019 graduation. Eli is now faced with an unknown set of lifechanging impacts from a devastating injury. As a testament to his strength of character and resolve, he remains in remarkably good spirits and is determined/motivated to get stronger, learn new skills, and improve in any way he can. He feels very lucky to be alive and knows that his injury (as severe as it is) could have been much worse.

The extent of Eli’s possible long-term recovery from his spinal cord injury is currently unknown and will best be measured in months or years (as opposed to days and weeks).  Only time, and the extent to which his body heals will reveal those answers. That said, Eli’s doctors and rehab team have conveyed their strong belief that, even if Eli experiences no return of feeling or movement below his hips, he will be a fully independent person and will be able to drive, work, and live independently (albeit in a wheelchair).

To help on his journey toward recovery and independence, Eli will need continued outpatient therapy, medications, medical supplies, and adaptive/medical equipment (beyond what medical insurance will cover).  Eli’s parents will need to modify their home with ramps, widened doorways, remodeled bathroom(s), other kitchen/exterior fixes, etc. to ensure his safe and independent living at home. He will also need to purchase and have a vehicle modified (hand operated controls, other modifications) so that he can drive safely and independently to and from work.   He will need many things over time... including your love, care and support!

If you feel moved to help make a difference in Eli McSpaden’s life at this crucial time, we’d be forever grateful for any financial support you can provide to him.