GodSpeed Everyone, I have been in a health crisis which is approaching 5 years due to multiple surgeries and injuries. It all started on July 8, 2020, when my tie rod broke and sent me 2500 feet down the mountainside off access road on Red Sandstone Rd on the way to Piney Lake.

As a result of the accident, they discovered a Grade 3 meningioma brain tumor that required 16 weeks of high-dose radiation. The doctors have indicated its location makes it inoperable. I also experienced a Grade 5 (TBI) traumatic brain injury. I have permanent brain damage, which makes it difficult to process situations at times, memory loss, and lost train of thoughts, along with intense migraine headaches.

My current medical condition is life-threatening; it kills 50 percent of patients. It is drug-resistant and very hard to detect, requiring cultures to be grown, which takes 8 weeks due to a botched surgery. I’m currently receiving daily antibiotic infusions at Shaw Cancer Center and Vail PC unit on weekends. The nausea is very bad at times due to drug interactions. At this point, I’m losing the battle slowly. The most recent surgery involved cleaning it out and putting in new hardware for revision (reversed shoulder implant) with two more surgeries scheduled 90 days apart to grow cultures. It’s a slow recovery process. This recent shoulder surgery has a 50/50 chance of re-infection. I’m also in need of lower back surgery L5-S1.

I’m currently in a financial tsunami due to not making medical bills, rent, food, dental, and vet bills, which are still mounting.

I’m currently fighting a deadly bacteria that requires daily antibiotic infusions with 3 more weeks to go. This bacteria is more deadly than most types of cancers.

I’m in physical therapy 4 times a week for the shoulder and hamstring.

Since 1/01/24, I have had 14 surgical injections on the lower back, two carpal tunnel release surgeries. On 6/18/24, I had a two-level neck fusion. On 7/18/24, I had foot surgery. On 8/18/24, I had surgery to repair a torn hamstring and am still in physical therapy.

Then on 11/3/24, I had emergency surgery on the right shoulder because of failure of the reverse shoulder implant and infection. Since that date, I have had seven surgeries on the right shoulder to take cultures of the tissues for infection, which, after growing them, the results still are coming back positive. I’m also in behavioral health therapy once a week.

This emergency surgery has caused me to miss my return to work date and I was terminated from Vail Health.

I was just served an eviction notice by Vail Health and will be in court in two weeks. I have nowhere to go at this point. If anyone knows of housing, I’m diligently looking for housing. Vail Health said they would allow me to stay through surgeries. Recovery is part of the surgery process. Vail Health has now changed their view and is evicting me. This is unfortunate. I’m in this situation because Vail Health and the Steadman Clinic are responsible for the sterilization breach during the surgery process that caused the infection and loss of employment, wrongful termination.

I’m currently on long-term disability, which pays only 40% of my gross income after taxes. Half of which goes to COBRA coverage for health. I now have to choose between health coverage or housing because of eviction.

I am applying for Medicaid from the state of Colorado; because of this, I will no longer be able to see current doctors for pain management and lower back at the Steadman Clinic as they do not accept Medicaid. This is really concerning as no doctor will treat me for the infection as they have indicated Vail Health and Steadman Clinic need to resolve the infection. I do not know how to navigate this huge issue. I have applied for social security disability which is so backed up they are a year and a half out from a hearing on it. With all the cuts and layoffs from the Trump administration, it could be longer. It’s unfortunate the system is broken and I can’t access my money I have worked for my whole life.

This unfortunate situation has caused a boatload of legal issues. I’m in need of legal representation for medical negligence, medical malpractice, wrongful termination, disability violations, discrimination, etc. I have found some law firms that will represent me and protect my rights. They want money upfront which I do not have at this time.

I am currently working with multiple non-profit organizations, such as Vail Valley Charitable Fund Swift, Catholic Charities, and the state of Colorado for vocational rehabilitation if I can get healthy enough to return to work, but it is looking at this time it’s not going to happen. All of the above have helped me out and I am extremely grateful for their help to this point. Turns out it’s a one and done thing unfortunately, though they state they will help out for long-term illness which I am.

Currently, they all have said they are at a loss on how to further help me out in my situation. They are also disappointed in Vail Health's behavior. It’s a very unfortunate situation.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. All funds will be used appropriately.

Godspeed, Richard Colucci and my puppy Ollie