Shower the Fairchild Family with love and support

Hi friends and loved ones of the Fairchild family. We all have times when we need extra support and love and that is one of those times for the Fairchild family. Most of you know that Gene suffered a major health incident (described in more detail below) recently and I am here to ask you to join me in showering the Fairchilds with support and love.

I'm a friend of Erin's of over a decade and I've watched her (and Ames) support her family by flying down and being there physically, emotionally, and financially over the last few weeks. Those that know Erin know her to be on the extreme end of supportive and caring people - always willing to sacrifice to help her community, dependable, and a sponge for other people's emotions. To say this has taken a toll on her, on both of her parents, and her extended family would be an understatement. I've been checking in with Erin almost every day since this happened and have seen her be moved by the support her friend and family circles are giving her family, and I've been pushing a fundraising effort for a week now because I saw the expenses adding up. She was hesitant but finally agreed that it's ok to ask for help from friends after I pointed out how many fundraising efforts she has given to over the years for her own friends in hard situations.

The details of what has happened in the last few weeks:

On July 24th, Gene who, according to Erin is the sweetest and best dad in the world, suffered cardiac arrest in the parking lot of the hotel her parents and brother were staying in while visiting her grandpa.

Hotel medics and her brother Colin saved his life with chest compressions & CPR until the EMTs and defibrillator arrived. He was brought back to life by incredibly brave people who knew what to do, and he was airlifted to the nearest hospital in Santa Rosa, hours from Humboldt.

After several days in the ICU, once his heart was healthy and strong enough, he was released to a rehab facility. During the life saving chest compressions, several of his ribs were broken. He also has second degree burns from laying on extremely hot asphalt, and a fractured knee bone. He has great care where he is now, with physical therapy and lots of other treatment to get him to a place where he can walk again. He's very determined and making progress. This is also a blessing in disguise (that they are 4 hours from home) because their home county is currently in covid crisis, a hotspot where hospitals and facilities are maxed out and risk is high.

Erin's mom Vicki, also the sweetest, has been unable to leave his side. She spends 12 hours a day with him in the facility. Because covid has ravaged care providers, the facility is often short staffed and Vicki is basically there acting as a nurses assistant. She is facilitating much faster healing by being there et etc.

The costs for hotels, transportation, buying clothes (they had planned on being there one day and are going on 3 weeks now), food, and support from other family members has piled up and they are not sure when they will be able to get back to Humboldt and end the hotel stay for Vicki.

Let's remind them how powerfully their community loves them and supports them!