Support Tim Arnold's Motorcycle Accident Recovery Journey

Mary Weber is organizing this fundraiser.

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Update 12/13/2024

Tim came through his surgery wonderfully! Surgeons decided against completing the bone grafting until a later time to reduce the risk of infection. Timmy was discharged several hours after his surgery. While everything still hurts in the grand scheme of things, he is in significantly less pain without the pins from the external fixator! Currently Tim is still not cleared to weight bear on his right leg, but we’re hoping that will change before Christmas! His next follow up appointment is with the plastic surgeons, and orthopedic surgery post-op is on Christmas Eve.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to help our family. We received the first bill in the mail, totaling just over $1,400 in relation to his inpatient stay at Shock Trauma. The funds that have been donated to us have gone towards paying for Tim’s medications, household bills, and now partially to his medical care. It’s been such a relief to receive this help. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all.

Update 12/6/2024

Tim's surgery to remove his external fixator has been pushed from 12/9 to 12/11, due to a pin-site infection (no fun!). We are prepared and looking forward to getting this large metal contraption OFF his leg, so he will be able to be a more active participant in his every day life. Due to the antibiotic nail that is currently in his leg, Tim has not been able to bear any weight at all on his R leg. Once this surgery goes ahead, a permanent weight bearing rod will be placed in his leg and he will be able to attempt walking, with the help of PT. Tim and I wanted to thank everyone who has donated ... we're incredibly touched that our friends and community have done so very much for us. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

Hi, my name is Mary Weber. My son, Tim Arnold, was involved in a motorcycle accident in September. He spent 5 weeks in Shock Trauma and at this time he is not able to return to work. I’m asking if anyone is able to give any amount of donation to help Tim with his monthly bills. He will have additional surgeries in the upcoming weeks. Tim has such a good spirit and is looking forward to returning to his job. I would like to take some of his worries away, so he can concentrate on healing. Any help will be very much appreciated.

Hi all, below is some additional information regarding Tim's accident, and his recovery thus far from Victoria, Tim's partner of 8 years.

On September 14th this year, Tim was riding his motorcycle and swerved to miss a vehicle idling the road with no indicator lights. The front end of his bike clipped the curb, and threw him and his passenger into the grass on the side of the road. Tim’s leg was crushed in between the curb, and the bike. He was left with a complete open fracture of his tibia and fibula, degloving of his R leg, and a broken jaw. He considers himself incredibly lucky to have not died in the accident. As he didn’t collide with the vehicle, they had no obligation to stay at the scene.

Tim called me, right after the accident occurred. I heard folks in the background on the phone, stating that 911 had been called. I drove to the scene of the accident, (thank goodness for IPhone location services) and I remember Tim telling me he believed he was going to lose his leg.

A nurse who lived at the corner near the accident rushed out to help, both our friend and Tim. The passenger sustained injuries, and ultimately was able to walk away from the scene. The nurse was kind, he placed a tourniquet on Tim’s leg, and kept him conscious while we waited for EMS to arrive. This nurse didn’t let go of Tim’s hand until EMS arrived and moved him onto a stretcher.

Tim was flown to University of MD Shock Trauma in Baltimore City, and was taken into surgery to attempt to save his leg. He spent just over a month in the Shock Trauma center, enduring 10+ surgeries to include the placement of an external fixator, an antibiotic nail placed in his R leg, several skin grafts, a skin flap placed on his R leg, and maxillofacial surgery to repair his jaw. He was discharged home on October 20th, and we have been met with love and support at home from all sides.

On December 9th, Timmy will be undergoing surgery to remove the external fixator (yay!), removal of the antibiotic nail, placement of a permanent rod in his R leg, and a bone grafting procedure. The bone grafting site will be from his pelvis, and it will be placed where he is missing a significant portion of his tibia. This will be an overnight stay in the hospital, and his doctors are optimistic for his recovery.

The concept of amputation of Tim’s R leg is not off the table, and will continue to be a possibility over the next few years. The type of injury he sustained to his leg has caused chronic nerve pain. Once the external-fixator is removed and he continues to recover, we will have a better idea of the type of pain he will be experiencing. Tim fought off a bone infection while in the hospital and during his first month home, but the concept of delayed infection is incredibly real. Should this reoccur, we could be faced with the need to amputate below the knee.

After the accident, Tim was not able to work. He has been the breadwinner of our family for many years, and the best supporter to our children. Over the course of the next year, Tim will be undergoing several surgeries to help him return to full mobility, and the relief we would feel from having additional financial support at this time would be immense. Tim’s company has been incredibly understanding and he does hope to return to work in the future. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work in the world of physical therapy, so my knowledge has been helpful to his recovery, but not enough to keep our family afloat financially.

Below you will find several photographs of Tim’s X-rays, injuries, and his current state. Through it all, he has continued to be a wonderful father, and the best partner I could ask for. He has his ups and downs, good days and bad, but we are determined to make his future brighter. Any support you can offer at this time will be put towards monthly expenses, supporting our wonderful kids, and impending medical bills.

All our love and thanks.

9/15/2024