Support Wally Dyer's Long Road to Recovery

Dear friends,

One of Carlinville’s own, Wally Dyer, was in a snowmobile accident on January 26th. He, his son Nate, and other friends were riding in Mercer, Wisconsin. On Wally’s approach to go under a bridge en route to Ron Releford’s cabin, his snowmobile hit a rock, he was thrown, and his head hit the bridge that he intended to ride under.

He was airlifted to the nearest trauma center two hours south, in Wausau, where he remains. Wally broke 17 bones in his back and ribs, ruptured his eardrum, fractured his skull, and incurred a brain bleed.

Michelle immediately drove to Wisconsin upon receiving a phone call from the Wisconsin State Police and has not returned home. As a wife, mother, and business owner, you can only imagine the pain and uncertainty she is facing.

Wally's CT scans have remained unchanged. The brain bleed is slowly healing. Wally is conscious and can freely move his arms and legs. He can speak; some things are very clear, and some things are not. Pain management is essential, but it complicates his ability to communicate. He has graduated from the ICU to an intermediate rehabilitation floor. But, after almost 2 weeks in the hospital, there is still no timeline for a transfer closer to home. He is getting the finest care possible, but proximity to home makes everything exponentially harder for Michelle, Acacia, and Nate. Recovery, however that may look, is going to be grueling. The road will be long.

Michelle has had to pay for lodging, food, and gas. As we all know, she doesn’t get paid time off from her job. When the time comes for Wally to get transferred, it will have to be by medical helicopter due to the extent of his injuries. The estimated cost for that alone is $38,000. Michelle has already been told that their insurance may not cover it.

Wally lends himself to our community, volunteering for the Lion’s Club and the Macoupin County Fair. Now is our time to give back to him. If you love the outdoors, are a father, a brother, a friend, please find it in your heart to support the Dyer family through money, time, or talent.