The Fundraiser Needs A Fundraiser

Tim Ahearn is known for his strength, power, and endurance as a talented cyclist.  Aimee Ahearn, Tim’s wife, is also known for her strength as an equine veterinarian, wife, and mother.  Together, with their 7 yo daughter, Carolina, they are the epitome of strength.  But that strength is being tested. 

Thursday, November 17th, Tim and Aimee flew to San Antonio, TX, to spend time with one other and to attend the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention.  On Friday, November 18th, Aimee and Tim parted ways after lunch. Not surprisingly to anyone who knows Tim, he was looking forward to riding new roads as his training starts back up for another year of road cycling. 

Tim did not complete his planned 75-mile ride.  On Friday afternoon, Tim suffered a serious, life threatening cycling accident.  Something or someone caused Tim to catapult from his bike to the pavement, face first.

As with any accident, there are “first responders”.  For Tim, it is safe to say that his first responder was his helmet as it most assuredly saved his life.  Total strangers also responded and literally gave Tim the shirt off their back to help slow the bleeding and to ensure his rapid transport to the region's most respected trauma hospital. The skill of the trauma team and oral surgery team, again, saved his life Friday night by stopping the bleeding that was constricting Tim’s airway and literally drowning him. 

And Tim--that strength--to live, to love--helped him claw back that first night.

This Thanksgiving the Ahearns give thanks that the love of Aimee's life, the superhero daddy that literally climbs mountains (on his bike!) for Carolina, is here too.  As Tim scrawled on a dry erase board (since he cannot currently speak), "What could have been..."

Tim has raised thousands of dollars for various charities, most recent and notable are his almost superhuman fundraising Mount Greylock climbathons for ERRACE.org.  Now Tim himself, his family, need your help.

Tim & Aimee are independent business owners. They own a veterinary business where Aimee is the only Doctor and Tim manages everything else.  The inability for both to work short and long term while Tim recovers will test them financially as well as emotionally and physically. 

While we are thankful for his life, the mounting costs of ICU care is a daunting reality, in addition to the 3 surgeries in 5 days, the trachea tube to breathe, and being in a city away from family and friends.  More than that, in the weeks and months ahead there will be additional surgeries to his face, mouth, and jaw; intensive rehab as he will re learn speech due to the severe trauma, teeth loss, and repair.

Aimee has expressed that she now intimately knows what it means to be overwhelmed by kindness from so many:  family, friends, clients, the cycling community, the veterinary community, the church community, the Woodstock (CT) community, Carolina's 2nd grade friends offering a home for Thanksgiving, and PERFECT strangers—this kindness is one of the many miracles realized.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and in your consideration to help the Ahearns financially. No amount is too small or too big.

With love      Tim, Aimee, & Carolina Ahearn