Help Us Help Luke!
Donation protected
Last week, my friends' world changed forever.
One of my best friends, Donya, was waiting for her fiance, Luke, to come home from work, and he was uncharacteristically late. She knew he had taken his motorcycle to work because he found it easier to park in the crowded Delta lot, and she tried not to worry, but he had texted her almost an hour ago and something in her gut made her grab her keys and get in her car and drive around the neighborhood in the dark looking for him.
That was when she saw the sirens and the wreck. I can only imagine how terrified and nightmarish the scene must have been - they wouldn't let her approach the scene and she had to beg them to confirm her worst fears. It was Luke - he'd come around a blind turn and collided with a vehicle turning left on the road into their driveway. He'd thrown himself from the motorcycle and was lying prone on the side of the road.
Donya followed him to the hospital, called his family, and sat in the ICU waiting room waiting to hear the news. We recently found out that his injuries are extensive. He has a fractured vertebrae, fractured all of his ribs, both shoulder blades, his clavicle, his hands and his foot. He is scheduled for a 12-hour surgery to begin to address the fractures, and his family and fiancee will need to assist him with his mobility between treatments.
The cost of his recovery, even with his insurance, to cover his hospital stay, rehabilitation, ongoing therapies, and even changes our friends must make to their house/living situation are overwhelming. They should not have to bear this cost alone, when they are already swimming in medical bills and have already postponed/pushed off their wedding to accommodate this tragedy.
Luke is taking long-term leave from his job until he is able to return, but Donya is still a semester and a half away from finishing nursing school, and in the middle of this nightmare, is struggling to attend clinicals and to pass tests, while trying to care for their house, their animals, and be at his bedside in the hospital.
If you can help in any way, please give. Even a small amount will help. They are both such caring people, and would appreciate anything you have to give. Even now, Donya can't stop caretaking (if you visit her in the hospital, she will worry that YOU aren't comfortable or that you need water or that you might want a snack). Please help our friends. Together, we can make this transition a little easier, and can help shine a little light in their darkness.
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UPDATE: It is with a heavy heart that I must tell those of you who don’t know that Luke passed away yesterday evening, 11/09. He had his family and friends at the hospital and by his side and did not pass alone. He is missed beyond words, and there is no easy way to describe the grief and sorrow his loved ones feel at this time.
This fund, however, is more important than ever. Donya needs your support now even more than before. While she and Luke were once a one-income household, she must now face all of their financial responsibilities alone. She is not yet finished with nursing school and has much to face and to sort through in the coming weeks and months. Please help our sweet friend. Please give if you can. Please share this update and share this fund.
On behalf of Donya and Luke’s family, thank you to everyone who has already donated and thank you to everyone for your continued support, prayers and love. It is only through community that we are able to bear the weight of sorrow and to shine a light in the dark.
UPDATE 11/13:
A celebration of Luke’s life will be Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Community Bible Church, 2001 Jodeco Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281. All are welcome.
One of my best friends, Donya, was waiting for her fiance, Luke, to come home from work, and he was uncharacteristically late. She knew he had taken his motorcycle to work because he found it easier to park in the crowded Delta lot, and she tried not to worry, but he had texted her almost an hour ago and something in her gut made her grab her keys and get in her car and drive around the neighborhood in the dark looking for him.
That was when she saw the sirens and the wreck. I can only imagine how terrified and nightmarish the scene must have been - they wouldn't let her approach the scene and she had to beg them to confirm her worst fears. It was Luke - he'd come around a blind turn and collided with a vehicle turning left on the road into their driveway. He'd thrown himself from the motorcycle and was lying prone on the side of the road.
Donya followed him to the hospital, called his family, and sat in the ICU waiting room waiting to hear the news. We recently found out that his injuries are extensive. He has a fractured vertebrae, fractured all of his ribs, both shoulder blades, his clavicle, his hands and his foot. He is scheduled for a 12-hour surgery to begin to address the fractures, and his family and fiancee will need to assist him with his mobility between treatments.
The cost of his recovery, even with his insurance, to cover his hospital stay, rehabilitation, ongoing therapies, and even changes our friends must make to their house/living situation are overwhelming. They should not have to bear this cost alone, when they are already swimming in medical bills and have already postponed/pushed off their wedding to accommodate this tragedy.
Luke is taking long-term leave from his job until he is able to return, but Donya is still a semester and a half away from finishing nursing school, and in the middle of this nightmare, is struggling to attend clinicals and to pass tests, while trying to care for their house, their animals, and be at his bedside in the hospital.
If you can help in any way, please give. Even a small amount will help. They are both such caring people, and would appreciate anything you have to give. Even now, Donya can't stop caretaking (if you visit her in the hospital, she will worry that YOU aren't comfortable or that you need water or that you might want a snack). Please help our friends. Together, we can make this transition a little easier, and can help shine a little light in their darkness.
----
UPDATE: It is with a heavy heart that I must tell those of you who don’t know that Luke passed away yesterday evening, 11/09. He had his family and friends at the hospital and by his side and did not pass alone. He is missed beyond words, and there is no easy way to describe the grief and sorrow his loved ones feel at this time.
This fund, however, is more important than ever. Donya needs your support now even more than before. While she and Luke were once a one-income household, she must now face all of their financial responsibilities alone. She is not yet finished with nursing school and has much to face and to sort through in the coming weeks and months. Please help our sweet friend. Please give if you can. Please share this update and share this fund.
On behalf of Donya and Luke’s family, thank you to everyone who has already donated and thank you to everyone for your continued support, prayers and love. It is only through community that we are able to bear the weight of sorrow and to shine a light in the dark.
UPDATE 11/13:
A celebration of Luke’s life will be Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Community Bible Church, 2001 Jodeco Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281. All are welcome.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kylene Cepeda McNally
Organizer
Lilburn, GA
Donya Stagner
Beneficiary
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