Hi, my name is Rudi Pendleton, and I’m reaching out with deep humility and gratitude for your support on my road to recovery.

On June 12, 2025, I suffered a devastating accident during my usual after work visit to South Fork river. A 4,000 pound boulder rolled over my leg, crushing my tibia and fibula and nearly severing my lower leg. Alone and with no cell service, I had to fight for my life, crawling, climbing, and driving myself miles in excruciating pain to find help. I made it to cell signal and reached my long time best-friend and co-parent, Kim Latos. She happened to be close by and arrived to find me in a puddle of blood and slipping into unconsciousness. I had lost over half my blood once we arrived at the ER.

I was airlifted to Redding Mercy Medical Trauma Center for emergency surgery, where a titanium rod was inserted to save my leg. Days later, I was hospitalized again with a severe, antibiotic-resistant form of pneumonia I contracted during surgery, bringing me close to death for the second time in two weeks.

Today, I thank God to still be alive, and to still have my leg, but I have a long road to recovery ahead. I require support for care and am unable to work, with mounting medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses that I simply can’t cover on my own. Kim is also spending a significant amount of time and resources to support me. She has done tremendous work for this community with 17 years at our local animal shelter and now working with her non profit STAR, where she has TNR’d 387 cats in the past 19 months.

I’ve spent my life giving back to others and never imagined I’d be in a position to ask for help. But now, I’m humbly asking for support for me and my family from my community, my friends, and kind strangers moved by my story.

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Ongoing medical care and rehabilitation

• Vital living expenses while I’m unable to work

• Mobility and healing support as I learn to walk again

Every contribution, share, and prayer means the world to me. Thank you for helping me take the next steps on this long journey, one filled with hope, healing, and deep gratitude.

With love,

Rudi Pendleton & Family