Brad Winkles never needed anyone's help the way he needs yours now.
A Life Built by Hand
If you went to school with Brad Winkles never needed anyone's help the way he needs yours now.
Winkles, you remember the guy who was friends with everyone. We graduated from Forney High School in the Class of 1991—there were only 97 of us, and back then, we were more like a family than just classmates.
Since those days, Brad’s grown up and become a true blue-collar guy. He found his path by building his own construction business from the ground up, and he took immense pride in being his own boss and working with his hands. Over the years, he built a reputation for hard work and earned many loyal customers who knew they could count on him.
A Scary Turn of Events
It started with a backache Brad tried to tough out. We all know how it is—most of us will do just about anything to avoid a trip to the ER. Brad was no different, but the pain finally became agonizing. When he arrived, the news was a shock: he was 48 hours away from permanent paralysis. Doctors ordered major spinal surgery the very next day. The surgery was extensive, consisting of multiple plates and several smaller, but incredibly painful procedures. Brad has been hospitalized for two weeks and counting. This emergency caught everyone completely off guard, leaving Brad and his family to manage a crisis they never saw coming.
The Road to Recovery
There’s hope, even though Brad won't ever be able to work the way he used to. The goal now is to get him through therapy so he can eventually walk again with the help of a rolling walker. Despite the plates and the constant pain, his sister Kim says he’s stayed incredibly calm and steady. Your support lets him focus on that recovery instead of worrying about how he’ll survive once he’s finally discharged.
The Heart of the Home: Dolly and Littles
The most heartbreaking part of this for Brad is being away from his two dogs, Dolly and Littles. They didn’t understand why Brad was suddenly gone for weeks, and because he’s still in the hospital recuperating, they’re still waiting for him. Right now, they’re spending nearly 24 hours a day in an empty home, only seeing Kim or Cameron for the short time they’re able to stop by and feed them. They don't understand why their human isn't there, and even when he does finally make it home, they'll have to adjust to him being confined to a chair or a bed. They miss their favorite person, and Brad’s biggest motivation is getting back to the house to be with them.
The 12-Month Wait
Because Brad was self-employed, his income vanished instantly. He’s currently in the process of filing for government disability, but that process typically takes 12 months or longer. We’re raising funds to bridge this year-long gap so Brad can survive while the system catches up.
A Family Stepping Up
Currently, a home health care aide is only provided for three days a week once a patient is released. For the other four days, Brad will be completely reliant on others for everything. His sister Kim and his son Cameron are currently balancing their full-time jobs and the family farm with the demands of being at the hospital with Brad. But let's face it: once he's home, the need for 24-hour care is a massive undertaking. They simply can’t do this alone.
The Last Resort
Asking for help is truly a last resort for this family. We wouldn’t be reaching out like this if there were any other way to get through this. No amount’s too small to make a difference. If you're comfortable, please share this link on your social media. If you work for a company that matches donations, please see if this is a donation they would match.
If you’d prefer not to donate through GoFundMe, you can also donate through:
* Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, Chime, OnePay, or PayPal
* Checks: If you’d like to mail a check, please reach out and we’ll happily share the address.
Once a Jackrabbit, always a Jackrabbit—and Jackrabbits take care of their own. Let’s show the guy who was friends with everyone in the Class of '91 that we’ve still got his back.