On March 19th, my dad fell down the stairs at his home in Franklin. Thankfully, my brother Nick was there and able to call for help. The fall resulted in multiple serious injuries. He broke his hip in two places and also broke his shoulder. Both injuries required two separate surgeries, with metal plates and screws to piece everything back together. He underwent both surgeries in St. Cloud and now has a long recovery ahead of him.

Since the accident, my mom officially retired on April 12th but has not been back to work since the day he fell. Instead of getting to enjoy the start of retirement, she has been spending her days driving back and forth to hospitals and care facilities to be with him. He was eventually transferred to a hospital in Olivia, which is closer to home, but the ambulance trips are not covered by anything and have become another major out-of-pocket expense. Even now, transportation to appointments and other facilities can cost hundreds of dollars per trip.

We have also been trying to find a care facility closer to home to make things easier on both of my parents, but so far every option has required a very large upfront payment to provide the care he needs. On top of that, none of the facilities have been willing to cover medications he has been on for years because of the cost, creating even more financial pressure during an already difficult time. My parents worked hard their entire lives and carefully saved for retirement. Unfortunately, this accident has already started creating major unexpected expenses between surgeries, hospital stays, transportation, rehabilitation, medications, and the possibility of needing updates to their home before my dad can safely return.

The support from friends and family has already meant so much to all of us. Every visit, message, and phone call has helped lift my dad’s spirits during an incredibly difficult time. Any support would be deeply appreciated and would go directly toward medical bills, transportation costs, rehabilitation, medications, care facility expenses, and preparing their home for his recovery. We know the road ahead will be long, but we are grateful for every bit of support, encouragement, and kindness along the way.