Hello, my name is Emma Matthies and I'm creating this fundraiser on behalf of my sister and her fiance, James Saunders.

On Saturday, June 1st, James and Petra took their three kids out for a fun family night at the drive-in. While playing with their kids, James slipped and ruptured his spleen causing internal bleeding.

All fun and games abruptly ended as James was rushed to Milford Hospital where he received an emergency blood infusion and was quickly med-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center. His family waited helplessly while they stopped the bleeding in his spleen. While the surgery was successful, James still had to spend five days in the ICU trauma unit to make sure his spleen didn't start bleeding again.

The doctors told him many of the services he required to save his life likely wouldn't be covered by his state insurance. This fundraiser is to help them pay uncovered medical services and bills while James recovers.

James is currently the only breadwinner in their family as my sister Petra is on maternity leave. She delivered their youngest daughter, Drew, in April 2024.

James and Petra are both hard-working, fitness enthusiasts. They are recently engaged with three daughters and had plans to open a new personal training gym together in Franklin, set to open at the end of 2024.

Their plans have changed dramatically since last Saturday and they are doing their best to take care of each other physically and mentally while James recovers -

But they could use your help.

James is looking at 3 months of bed rest and was told that, during those 3 months, he is at high risk for another rupture which would mean removing his spleen altogether.

So, to relieve James and Petra of at least one of their burdens, I hope to raise $10,000.

We ask you to consider donating to James' recovery, even $1 helps more than you know! If you cannot contribute financially but want to help in other ways, please reach out to me. Thanks in advance!