Max's Journey to Healing Needs Your Help

UPDATE:

On behalf of Sheila and Max I'd like to thank you for your kindness and support.

Whether it was your financial contribution, sharing the link, spending time visiting, dropping off food, thoughts and prayers etc. etc., you’ve made a real difference, and it's wonderful to have friends and family like you. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.

Max did well with surgery last week. He will go for his follow-up appointment Monday where they will discuss physical therapy (and take a look to see whether his infection has cleared.)

I'm updating thie GoFundMe today to let you know that Sheila and Max are very grateful and are ready to pull the fundraiser due to so much generosity from this site and from outside sources as well. No need for additional donations. As soon as the funds are distributed I'll be closing out the site.

Many thanks to all of you.

Lisa

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Dear Friends and Family,

We’re reaching out today with a heartfelt request for support. As many of you know, our man Max recently survived a horrific workplace accident. While changing commercial lighting at a job site, the feet of his extension ladder began to slip. (I’ve seen the warehouse security video… there seems to be no apparent reason for this… he wasn’t jerking or dancing up there… he had done the same procedure in other areas of the warehouse prior to this one… a very freak accident for sure.) The base of the ladder somehow lost traction against the surface of the concrete floor. The bottom of the ladder kept sliding back and Max rode down with the ladder. The film made it look so gentle. I assure you it was not. He was knocked unconscious and remained so until after arrival at the hospital via ambulance. But thankfully, most of his injuries were from his landing on the ladder from about 15’ rather than landing directly on concrete, and we are very grateful for that. He has a shattered elbow and a broken nose; (Also assorted injuries to his head-shoulders-knees-and-toes–knees-and-toes ♫♫)

We’ve set up this GoFundMe to help cover expenses associated with this accident. Yes, he has Worker’s Comp with his company. He should be all set, right? Sooo wrong. I am shocked to learn how little of Max’s salary will be picked up by the Wage Replacement portion of this insurance. Typically, an employee is entitled to 80% of their after-tax wage. However, there’s also an “offset” for people over age 65. (WHAT!!???) Per MCL – Section 418.357, the weekly payments for each year following his 65th birthday shall be reduced by 5% of the weekly payment that would have been payable to someone younger. For Max at age 71, this is an additional 35% reduction of his 80% weekly wage replacement! This results in a weekly payment of about half of his regular salary!

If you know Max and Sheila well, you know it took a lot of arm-twisting to convince them that it is ok to graciously accept being the recipients of a fundraiser. You also know that both Max and Sheila have lived lives of great generosity and support of others – including family, friends, and odds and ends of strangers and former strangers they’ve met along the way. Whether offering financial assistance or sharing their talents, time, and kindness, they both radiate a generosity of spirit. (Many of us have relied on Max for his offers of home improvement advice, expertise, and in many cases just plain hard work.)

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference. If you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this campaign with your network would mean the world to us. And as always, prayers, kind words, and deeds are never a bad thing!

Thank you for taking the time to read this story, and for any support you’re able to offer. We are so grateful for your kindness during this time.

With deep appreciation,

Fans of Max & Sheila