Life Flight Expenses for Ryan Gottfredson

It is July 22, 2022, and today is my big brother's birthday. I am fundraising for an uncovered $40,000 medical bill from a motorcycle accident in 2020. Ryan thought such an accident would never happen to him, so he did not add life-flight benefits to his insurance plan. He and his wife had to mortgage the bill because they could not afford the monthly payment nor had the funds to pay it in full (they were offered a 5% discount if they could). Thankfully his insurance covered most of the expenses besides the enormous cost due to his required life flight. I am so grateful his outcome was positive and that he has been able to heal over the last few years! He and his closest friends recognize the miracles that day to save his leg.

Ryan is a devoted father of 6 kids and husband to Mandi Parry Gottfredson. They also support two full-time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and raise six exceptional children. He is an administrator over the Seminary program in Middleton, Idaho and has taught youth ages 14-18 for over 15 years. My favorite thing about Ryan is that he treats everyone like a good friend. He smiles, laughs and talks to strangers with rare ease and has them smiling and talking back. He is thoughtful and a tireless worker in supporting his family. We need more Ryan's in this world.

In 2020, Ryan was in a motorcycle accident in the canyon above his home, in which his right foot was wholly displaced, and he suffered a fracture of his leg bone. Despite his efforts to refuse an expensive life flight and his preference for an ambulance ride, the paramedics insisted. Even after an initial attempt to take him in the ambulance, the paramedics determined that a helicopter ride would be necessary due to the severity of the injury, length, and bumpiness of the ride. They were concerned that they could not keep him stabilized and that his life would be at risk.

Ryan underwent surgery to repair his misplaced foot and a broken leg and had a six-month recovery. We are so grateful the outcome was not worse and that he could still be himself amidst the pain he experienced. Again, the thing I love about Ryan is that during the whole ordeal, he was still smiling and joking around with those who were helping him.

Total uncovered expenses for this accident were around $40,000. Any donation will help immensely! Please consider giving a little birthday gift to this awesome guy and helping his family out. And in his words, "if you ride a motorcycle, life flight insurance is necessary."