Rock Climbing is fun. Falling, not so much!

Hello Family and Friends,

One of the hardest things to do is ask for help, but I find myself needing a lot of help lately. Last month I went to a rock climbing gym near my dads home in hopes to share my new found passion with him and to find something we could share together. I was demonstrating techniques and showing my dad how to use the equipment and in my excitement I made a critical safety error. I found myself more then halfway up the wall when I realized I had not properly clipped into the safety rope (auto belay). I tried to start climbing back down the wall but my panic got the best of me and I fell from about 25 feet (about a 2 story building). When I hit the ground I broke all of the metatarsals in my right foot as well as the ACL, MCL and Patella Tendon in my left knee.

The physicians have informed me that I may not be able to walk for up to one year. I went through my first surgery this week to repair my MCL and Patella Tendon and will have my second surgery this coming week to repair my right foot. Once I have fully healed from the first two surgeries the doctor will need to go back into my left knee to repair my ACL. It is going to be a long road but I am not going to let this get me down and look forward to continue my passion for rock climbing.

I have worked in the medical field for approximately three years, starting off as a certified nursing assistant and then moving on to becoming an EMT Advanced. Through the experience of falling, I have gained a new respect and new insight for quality patient care and the true importance of pain management. I have decided to advance my carrier into becoming an RN (registered nurse) and then moving on to becoming a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner. I will start my RN program during my healing process but unfortunately transportation is going to be an issue. Until healed, I will also not be able to work as an EMT Advanced, as this requires a lot of mobility and being able to operate the ambulance.

As someone that spends most of their time helping other people, I find it very hard to ask help for myself. But I need help.

Any funds that you send will be greatly appreciated and will go towards medical bills, transportation and maintaining my apartment.

Austin