2017 Michael Maag Recovery Fund
Donation protected
As most of you know Michael Maag has been in a wheelchair since his accident in 2003. (While cycling on a rural road in Southern Oregon, he was struck by a newly licensed teenage driver.) Over the years he has endured innumerable surgeries and hospitalizations, yet has continued to work and contribute to the community he loves.
He has an indefatigable spirit, but life seems determined to continue to test him and, in defense, his friends are setting up a new Go Fund Me drive to help him through his present challenge. (You can read Michael’s detailed account of his most recent hospitalization below this introduction.)
In brief, Michael entered a hospital in Portland on November 10, 2016 where he spent an improbable 106 days in a hospital bed. Try to wrap your head around that: 106 days - many of them flat on his back!
Thankfully Michael returned home on February 24 and is on the mend. His remarkable spirit, along with his great sense of humor and seemingly undaunted optimism, helped him get through yet another physical, mental and spiritual trial. However, he is slammed, once again, with impossible expenses.
Here are the cold hard facts:
He faces about $16,000 in “out of pocket” medical expenses due over the next couple of months!
He is anticipating a future move into less expensive, housing that would have to be made adaptable to his wheelchair.
New housing could mean a longer commute, and that would necessitate his purchasing an adaptable vehicle.
Michael has said: “It seems ludicrous and ungrateful for the enormous bounty already given for me to turn around and ask for more”.
We believe his friends and colleagues understand that it takes a village - and sometimes that village has to come through more than once!
Michael has climbed his fair share of mountains on his own. Together we can ease his burden and help him over this one. So, please give what you can.
Michael’s story
After recovery from pressure ulcer surgeries in 2015 I returned to full time work and life. In August 2016 I fell ill from what turned out to be osteomyelitis. Another pressure ulcer manifested over the infected bone at that point.
After about 6 weeks of attempting to kill the infection and heal the wound through outpatient care, it became clear that surgery was necessary. On 10 November I checked into Legacy Emanuel in Portland. On 11 November and 22 November I had surgeries to remove the infected bone and to close the wound with a surgery called a rotational flap.
After a month of laying flat in bed I started sitting up and working on building strength. It looked like I would be good to go by 2 January 2017, however, a few days before the wound dehisced. Which is a fancy way of saying it opened up.
We tried several things including a skin graft to close the wound. Finally exploratory surgery showed that there were some remnants of a “dissolvable” stitch that was providing an anchor for infection and keeping the wound open. More surgery and sutures and another month in Legacy resulted in my transfer to Providence in Medford to work on building muscle and prepare for a return home.
On 24 February, 106 days (who is counting?) after I checked in at Legacy I finally returned home. My wound is still open but making great progress. Being home really helps with that. I think that it is the love all around me.
He has an indefatigable spirit, but life seems determined to continue to test him and, in defense, his friends are setting up a new Go Fund Me drive to help him through his present challenge. (You can read Michael’s detailed account of his most recent hospitalization below this introduction.)
In brief, Michael entered a hospital in Portland on November 10, 2016 where he spent an improbable 106 days in a hospital bed. Try to wrap your head around that: 106 days - many of them flat on his back!
Thankfully Michael returned home on February 24 and is on the mend. His remarkable spirit, along with his great sense of humor and seemingly undaunted optimism, helped him get through yet another physical, mental and spiritual trial. However, he is slammed, once again, with impossible expenses.
Here are the cold hard facts:
He faces about $16,000 in “out of pocket” medical expenses due over the next couple of months!
He is anticipating a future move into less expensive, housing that would have to be made adaptable to his wheelchair.
New housing could mean a longer commute, and that would necessitate his purchasing an adaptable vehicle.
Michael has said: “It seems ludicrous and ungrateful for the enormous bounty already given for me to turn around and ask for more”.
We believe his friends and colleagues understand that it takes a village - and sometimes that village has to come through more than once!
Michael has climbed his fair share of mountains on his own. Together we can ease his burden and help him over this one. So, please give what you can.
Michael’s story
After recovery from pressure ulcer surgeries in 2015 I returned to full time work and life. In August 2016 I fell ill from what turned out to be osteomyelitis. Another pressure ulcer manifested over the infected bone at that point.
After about 6 weeks of attempting to kill the infection and heal the wound through outpatient care, it became clear that surgery was necessary. On 10 November I checked into Legacy Emanuel in Portland. On 11 November and 22 November I had surgeries to remove the infected bone and to close the wound with a surgery called a rotational flap.
After a month of laying flat in bed I started sitting up and working on building strength. It looked like I would be good to go by 2 January 2017, however, a few days before the wound dehisced. Which is a fancy way of saying it opened up.
We tried several things including a skin graft to close the wound. Finally exploratory surgery showed that there were some remnants of a “dissolvable” stitch that was providing an anchor for infection and keeping the wound open. More surgery and sutures and another month in Legacy resulted in my transfer to Providence in Medford to work on building muscle and prepare for a return home.
On 24 February, 106 days (who is counting?) after I checked in at Legacy I finally returned home. My wound is still open but making great progress. Being home really helps with that. I think that it is the love all around me.
Organizer and beneficiary
Penny Metropulos
Organizer
Ashland, OR
Michael Maag
Beneficiary