Ellis family

I am Frank Eubanks and have known Jim and Cindy Ellis for about 22 years.  Jim and Cindy live in Montana with their three kids.  JJ is their son and sustained a traumatic brain injury back in 2010 as a result of playing football.  JJ was at the Headway Program for 7 months re-learning how to tie his shoelaces and write his name as a result of this first injury.    JJ had follow-up appointments and therapy sessions for several months stretching to years.  JJ was finally on his way to starting his life, over seven years later. 

JJ was getting ready to go to Bakersfield, California for his church mission.  While in the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah, he sustained another traumatic brain injury.  This injury was to the same spot as the first injury.  Where the first injury left JJ with no short term memory, this injury left JJ with no memory of anyone.  Or any place.    Doctors say that this will take several years for recovery and he might not even get some of his memories back at all.  Where JJ is now 19 and not going to school, he will only be covered for 90 days after the date of injury, September 19, 2017.  After that their secondary insurance will cover some of the cost but not all. 

Jim and Cindy have already sustained another unforeseen family emergency where they were relied upon heavily.   Jim and Cindy have also utilized their personal leave balances from work to deal with everything.  They did not ask for any help; however this is a family that is truly in need of help.  They have expressed their concerns with us. They are humbled that anyone would do this for them and thankful for any help offered.    That is why I am sending this out and they are not.  Money not used for medical bills will be donated to the Brain Trauma Program in Billings.