Steve's Medical Fund and Assistance

Remembering the good old days, when we were young and healthy! How quickly life can change with a serious accident! Steve was riding his bicycle on Silver Comet Trail on 6/18/14, and a bird flew out and hit him on the side of his helmet. Steve got off balance and went off the edge of the pavement. When Steve tried to get back onto the pavement, he flipped upside down and skidded on his helmet for about 15 feet, at about 20 miles per hour, with his legs and bicycle up in the air. Steve slid on his side when he started coming down, and had 6 wounds from his shoulder to his knee. Thank God that Steve was not alone that day, and our friend of the family who was riding his bicycle with Steve called 911 for an ambulance, which took about an hour to arrive. According to our friend, Steve’s eyes were rolled back, and Steve later said that he saw his life pass before him. When Steve started coming to, he realized that he could not move his legs. Steve was afraid, and later said that he started praying harder that he ever prayed before, and asked God to not let him stay paralyzed. The ambulance took Steve to trauma center, which was about 40 miles away. After being in the emergency room, Steve was admitted into the hospital, and had to have neck surgery, and was in the hospital for 5 days. It turned out that Steve had dislocated his 5th and 6th vertebrae along with his spinal cord that controls breathing and walking, but thank God, did not sever his cord, and once Steve was placed in traction and the spine stabilized, the legs started to respond again. The discs in the 5th and 6th vertebrae were removed and a titanium plate was used to fuse the two together.  Steve needed to stay in the hospital longer, and was released with staph infection in all of his wounds, but we did not know while Steve was at the hospital that he had staph infection. The infections were covered up with the bandages, but we saw how bad the infections were when the bandages were changed at the hospital. The bandages were not changed as often as they should have been also, and the original bandages were not changed by wound care until the third day, which was on Friday. Then we found out on Saturday, that wound care was not available on the weekends. The nurse did not want to change the bandages on the weekend, but Marie told her that they had to be changed. We just knew that Steve had serious infections in all of his wounds, as that was obviously visible at the hospital. We found out when Steve went to follow up wound care after being released from the hospital that Steve had staph infections in all of the wounds, when the bandages were removed and had swab and blood testings done to determine what type of infections that he had. On that same day, Steve started with antibiotic treatment specifically for the staph infection. Steve had to go to several more visits for wound care and staph infections. Steve also had spinal cord bruising, and nerve damage in both arms, and hands, and legs. Steve had torn ligaments in his neck and shoulder area and had other issues due to the accident. Steve was able to walk later, but still has numbness and neuropathy in both of his legs. Steve has had about 30 office visits, with various specialists, and needs to continue to go to more specialists for an unknown length of time. Steve needs to have more medical and holistic treatments, but we need more funds. We have been told that Steve needs to have 4 or more surgeries, and that there is no guarantee that these surgeries will help that much. After having nerve conduction tests on both legs, and also both arms and hands twice, Steve still has neuropathy, calcification, and damage to nerves, and continuous misfiring. Steve needs to have more nerve conduction tests done, and more specialists visits. Steve also needs more physical therapy, and other visits, and other treatments, such as massage therapy, and other holistic treatments. Steve also has rare blood cancer, called polycythemia vera, for which there is no known medical cure for. Marie has been blessed to have been able to learn about holistic healing nutritional ways since 1995, after being treated medically for allergies and asthma and many upper respiratory infections for about 12 years. These same chelated holistic nutritionals and healthy healing ways have been shown to help Steve with rare blood cancer, but there is no known medical cure for it. The current oncologist wanted Steve to start on chemo pills after trama and neck surgery and staph infection caused the rare blood cancer to get worse, as we expected it to. The former oncology hemotologist had previously told us that chemo pills would not help, and would probably cause him to get worse. Steve needs special chelated holistic nutritionals, and other nutritionals and healthy healing foods. Also, Steve became 99% deaf when he was about 5 years old, after getting streptomycin injections for flea bites on his legs from playing with his dad's bird dogs. We are concerned about taking medications, unless they are absolutely necessary, due to side effects. We also need major dental work done, and do not want to have more teeth extracted without root canals and crowns and bridges or implants and other major dental work done that is needed. Marie had to have emergency extraction of absessed tooth on Christmas Eve morning, since her throat was closing up.

Our funds have been depleted and we have been overwhelmed. We need funds for even basic normal daily expenses. We also need major auto repairs on very high mileage 1994 and 1998 cars. We do not know how much longer these cars will last even with major repairs needed. We cannot afford any newer cars. We were also previously flooded about 4 feet by several major storms, which was not covered by any insurance, and need more major repairs. We have learned how to do mold remediation out of necessity. Thank God that was before Steve had his bicycle accident! We have other needs, which are necessary. We are frugal, and exchange greeting cards for special occasions.

We have one precious grandchild, who is 6 months old, and want for Steve to be able to pick him up and play with him, as any grandfather would want to. Steve needs so many medical and holistic treatments to help him to gain more strength and to be healthier. We are just uncertain as to how much he will be able to improve. We are trusting God to help us to get through all of this! We also want to volunteer more and help others as we are able to. We love children and helping others and in ministries and any way that we can! We are self-employed and have not had enough work for long period of time. We are open to doing any kind of work that we are able to do, and appreciate any ideas.

We ask for your Prayers and any assistance that you are able to give, no matter how much! Everything and anything is greatly appreciated! If you are not able to use this fundraising service, you may be able to send message and help in some other way. We thank God everyday that Steve survived this serious accident, and pray for continuous healing! We thank you for your caring and concern and any help that you are able to assist with! We Believe in Miracles! God Bless You and Your Families! God is So Awesome! Take Care! <><