My brother, Jesse, is an active father, raising two kids in Portland, Oregon. They spend a lot of time outside, riding and racing bikes. On August 10, 2024, they were at Gateway Green PDX on their bikes when my brother was severely injured when someone assaulted him in the forearm with a machete. The cut is deep, all the way to the bone. In addition to his kids, he was riding that day with friends and their children, who helped him, and both Portland police and fire responded to calls for help.
Jesse was treated at the emergency room and is undergoing follow-up appointments with specialists. At this time the doctors are not advising surgery to reconnect the severed muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and are still doing tests to determine if he will regain full use of his hand. How his hand and arm functionally recover all remain to be seen. Once he is through this immediate phase of healing, he will need physical therapy.
Jesse is also self-employed and this physical change means that he is not be able to work during much of, if not all of, this recovery. We're creating this GoFundMe to help cover a portion of his family's medical and living expenses so Jesse can physically heal. Asking for help in this way is also not something that he is comfortable doing. He's resourceful and he and the boys will get through this, but lightening the financial load in any small way will give him more space to rest and recover.
Thank you for the kind words, concern, and support you've shown Jesse and his family.
