Mike Walsh Surgery
Donation protected
My name is Mike Walsh. I’m 53 years old and I'm paralyzed from the chest down.
I was happily married 19 years to my wife Lorra whom I loved dearly. I helped her raise her three children till they moved out on their own. Then on September 4th, 2016 I lost Lorra due to complications of Pulmonary Hypertension. A sword through my heart. Every day I would go to work, then come home and take care of her during her illness. After Lorra was gone, I had a hard time adapting to life without her. I miss her so much.
On March 19, 2017, about 6 months after Lorra passed I was out with friends. While we were out we were in a car wreck which left me severely injured. I spent the next month in Kootenai Medical Center’s ICU where I had 2 spinal surgeries, a feeding tube, a breathing tube and a birthday, amongst all the other not so fun things that go along with the ICU. From there I spent 6 weeks at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center where I learned how to cope with my new physical limitations. I am now paralyzed from the chest down and living in a nursing home.
Because my spinal cord wasn’t completely severed, there’s a possibility I could, with stem cell surgery, regain the use of my arms and possibly my legs. I have heard of people who had the same injury as I have and now with this surgery are able to stand on their own, walk with some help and most excitedly use their upper body which means they can feed themselves.
I’ve been a blue collar worker all my life, paying my taxes and providing for my family to only have it all taken away. Because of this accident I cannot work and I've had to turn to Medicade for health care. I have enjoyed my job working at a steel service center, where I’ve been an employee for 23 years and I really hope to get back there one day.
If I can raise enough money for this surgery, I can possibly regain the use of my upper body, hopefully even walk again. Then I can get back to work, start a new life for myself and once again be an active part of society. This surgery is my last hope for a second chance. I would appreciate any help you can give. Thank you so much.
Mike's sister, Laura Hegel, will be overseeing the fund for Mike.
A donor has pledged to match whatever amount we are able to raise up to $25,000.
I was happily married 19 years to my wife Lorra whom I loved dearly. I helped her raise her three children till they moved out on their own. Then on September 4th, 2016 I lost Lorra due to complications of Pulmonary Hypertension. A sword through my heart. Every day I would go to work, then come home and take care of her during her illness. After Lorra was gone, I had a hard time adapting to life without her. I miss her so much.
On March 19, 2017, about 6 months after Lorra passed I was out with friends. While we were out we were in a car wreck which left me severely injured. I spent the next month in Kootenai Medical Center’s ICU where I had 2 spinal surgeries, a feeding tube, a breathing tube and a birthday, amongst all the other not so fun things that go along with the ICU. From there I spent 6 weeks at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center where I learned how to cope with my new physical limitations. I am now paralyzed from the chest down and living in a nursing home.
Because my spinal cord wasn’t completely severed, there’s a possibility I could, with stem cell surgery, regain the use of my arms and possibly my legs. I have heard of people who had the same injury as I have and now with this surgery are able to stand on their own, walk with some help and most excitedly use their upper body which means they can feed themselves.
I’ve been a blue collar worker all my life, paying my taxes and providing for my family to only have it all taken away. Because of this accident I cannot work and I've had to turn to Medicade for health care. I have enjoyed my job working at a steel service center, where I’ve been an employee for 23 years and I really hope to get back there one day.
If I can raise enough money for this surgery, I can possibly regain the use of my upper body, hopefully even walk again. Then I can get back to work, start a new life for myself and once again be an active part of society. This surgery is my last hope for a second chance. I would appreciate any help you can give. Thank you so much.
Mike's sister, Laura Hegel, will be overseeing the fund for Mike.
A donor has pledged to match whatever amount we are able to raise up to $25,000.
Organizer and beneficiary
Douglas Coulson
Organizer
Spokane, WA
Laura Hegel
Beneficiary
