I am starting this GoFundMe for my friends, Kathy and Rick Reich.

Kathy has provided information about Rick's situation.

Please help if you can. Rick has a long road ahead of him, and Kathy is trying to find enough hours in a week to travel so she can be with Rick and travel back to ND so she can do her job. Thanks to everyone that is able to help!

On Thursday, February 5th, my husband Rick Reich was in a work-related accident where he fell off of a ladder between the third and fourth floors of the outside structure he was climbing to go work on a valve. He is an Electrical and Instrumentation Tech V at Dakota Gasification Company. He fell several feet and landed on an apparatus on his back, rolled to his front and fell again face first where he landed. He did not land on the ground, he was retrieved off of a structure or apparatus above the ground.

Rick was taken via plant ambulance to SMC and then air lifted to Fargo. He sustained head trauma, many skull, facial, cervical, and rib fractures and a leg fracture. He had a chest tube because of a pneumothorax. He had rib surgery where plates and screws were placed. He required reconstructive surgery to attach both of his ears.

On February 16th, he was flown to Omaha, Nebraska to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital for extensive Cognitive/PT/OT therapy. The extent of some injuries are yet to be seen because more healing needs to occur before other testing can be done (hearing). He has an MRI coming up to check out his shoulder. Emotional wellness is also key as well because this was a traumatic experience and we want to ensure that the brain being affected, everything is ready

Since being at Madonna, Rick has made progress in physical therapy. He is walking with assistance and a walker. Other therapies have seen progress, but with a brain injury, things take a lot of time and timelines are unknown. Emotional wellness is also key as well because this was a traumatic experience and we want to ensure that the brain being affected, everything is ready At this point, physicians do not see Rick working for several months. He will require outpatient therapy for several months 2-3 days a month once he gets home, and he will be unable to drive for the foreseeable future. It is unknown at this time when Rick will be coming home. I hope it will be sometime in April, but I really do not know.

After leaving Madonna, the plan is to go to another rehabilitation facility to get further acclimated to coming home and gaining more independence. Once Rick meets specific targets and they feel he is at a level where he can be successful with outpatient therapy, he will be allowed to come home. This has been emotionally trying for our entire family. It is very difficult for Rick to be away from his family. I have taken a leave from work and am here with him, but I will not be able to be with him for the whole time. I will need to come out for trainings if his next facility dictates, but I have to get back to my job. He has been very dependent on me while I have been here. Rick misses his grandkids a whole lot. We do all however understand this is the best place for him right now.

There are some unknown factors with this situation right now and what the future will hold. We know we will have financial issues, but we have not even begun to think about that, I am just really focusing on my husband and family at this point. It’s a lot, but it isn’t as bad as it could have been, and I am grateful for that. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Kathy Reich