On April 2, 2020, Ken Mayes, a proud Vietnam Vet (Marine Corps), father of three and grandfather of three, and life-long motorcycle rider, was in a life-altering motorcycle accident near Dulzura, CA, resulting in the emergency amputation of his right leg above mid-thigh, a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen, and severe blood loss. He also suffered many fractures, including several ribs on both sides (18 total), right scapula, left femur at the hip, two fractures in his lower jaw, an open LeForte I fracture (think mustache bone - shattered), and a traumatic brain injury. 


Ken’s life was miraculously saved by many guardian angels that day, including the two young men who were parking their car to go critter catching near the remote area in which he crashed. As soon as they heard Ken’s accident, they ran down the steep hillside he rode off and used a belt as a tourniquet to slow the bleeding from his right leg while calling for help. 


After 9 different medical procedures, 11 days under sedation, and 27 days in the hospital, Ken is finally on the road to healing. He has not made it home yet, but he has already undergone hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapies to relearn how to live and thrive with his new physical reality. We’ve been so amazed by his determination to heal through this whole process, especially since he was without the physical presence of his family and friends for many days due to COVID-19 visitor restrictions. Thankfully, family was finally granted visitation because of Ken’s cognitive issues due to his traumatic brain injury and delirium. He is now at a Skilled Nursing Facility to prepare for an Acute Rehab Facility before returning home.


For those of you who know Ken, you know him as a kind, fun-loving person who would drop everything in a heartbeat to help anyone in need. Even throughout this challenging time, he has been a source of light and laughter for his loved ones. Ken has spent a significant amount of time in the last few weeks thinking about how thankful he is that God so clearly saved his life and is excited to learn what He has for him in this next chapter.  Ken has continually amazed us - somehow more each day - with his determination, kindness, and ever increasing faith that God’s not done with him yet! 

Ken has always been active and healthy, and is already expressing his adapted goals of continuing his journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, riding his bicycle, hiking with his family, and playing and adventuring with his grandkids. We want to support him in every way possible to recover and fulfill his goals.


Unfortunately, insurance won’t cover all of the costs associated with helping Ken regain his independence, and understanding exactly how much his long recovery will cost is proving difficult.

We are asking for your help to cover many of the expenses that Ken and his family will have to bear, including:

* Out of pocket medical expenses (such as one-on-one 24 hour caretakers, ambulance costs, and ongoing medicine needs) 
* The cost(s) of a prosthetic leg and prosthetist appointments
* Follow up and long term rehabilitation costs 
* Adaptive athletic equipment 
* Adaptive bathroom and bedroom equipment 
* Home renovation expenses