Travis Mitchell Recovery Fund

From Shelia Mitchell (Travis’s Mom)

Update:

Update: 15 April 2024: First of all, heartfelt thanks to everyone for the donations. We are blown away by all the help we have received (monetarily, prayerfully, text messages, food, items for hospital stay, etc).

Travis is currently in Radiology having his central line removed. He is off of telemetry and down to just a few meds. We are so very, very thankful that he has responded as he has.

The next step will be transferring him to a rehab facility (plans are for this to happen today). This will focus on gaining some strength back and learning to manage being in a wheelchair. Unfortunately he will not really be able work on his left side of his body or walking for a while. But this is a great step considering how bad the accident was.

He has been amazing with his attitude and I ask you to keep him in your prayers as this next step will be both physically difficult and mentally daunting!

I also wanted to pass on that the funds so generously donated will be so very useful. We have started a list at the recommendation of his physical and occupational therapists and it is getting long!  I had thought of a few obvious things (wheelchair, new bed etc) but lots of items that never occurred to us (transfer board, leg lifter, different shoes, bars to help with pulling up and more…not having the use of either left arm or leg requires a bit more aid).  I have been told the people in the rehab facility will be suggesting additional tools to help him. These items will have to be in place before he can come home so being able to purchase them without worrying about where the funds come from is a blessing all of you have bestowed on us. Additionally the modifications to the house will definitely be easier to afford with this help.

It was (and is) very hard to be on the receiving end of things but realize sometimes you just have to accept help. We are very humbled by the amazing support of friends, family and coworkers of Travis, his dad Steve and me his mom, Sheila. Friends of family and those that love them have also reached out heavily with prayers and many donations as well. It truly has been a village.

Thank you again to everyone!  Thank you for praying to God on Travis’ behalf. We know how very fortunate we are that he survived this ordeal and prayers were heard.

I will keep ya’ll posted. Love to everyone. (Wear your seatbelt!)

The Mitchell’s

“How we got here:

On Tuesday, 2 April Travis was on his way home from work. He was later than usual and I was looking on FB and saw a post from DFW scanner about a really bad accident in Saginaw not far from the house with one person being taken away by ambulance. I had a sinking feeling. I called him and no answer. Steve took off to drive up there and we were hoping he was just in the traffic but not answering was out of the norm. Within minutes Steve called me and said “it was him”. He saw his truck and it was horrific. The police told him where the ambulance was taking him. This happened around 7:00 pm I think…not sure of specifics.

We went to the hospital downtown (scariest drive I have ever had) where we waited for over an hour before we could see him which was agonizing. The police came to talk to us and were not able to tell us a lot but let us know there would be an investigation and all 4 of the vehicles involved would be impounded during the investigation.

The Lt with the Saginaw police department was able to tell us that Travis was conscious so that was a huge relief. We finally got to see him and it was scary. I won’t go into what the trauma room looked like but it was a mess. He knew us but was in and out but unable to recall at all what happened.

A truck crossed over and caused a chain reaction of events leading to a 4 vehicle accident and Travis had the worst of it.

A man that witnessed it posted a follow up to a comment one of Travis’ co workerhad made: I helped people out of a car and then ran to your friends truck. He said “I could tell he was bad but I could do nothing as the truck was so smashed around him. So I stayed there the entire time talking to him until emergency arrived. By my watch he was on the stretcher in the back of MedStar in 19 minutes from the time of the crash, those firefighters were on point”. If you could tell your friend that I am very, very glad he is better and that he is one hell of a fighter I would appreciate it. I have been constantly looking for updates about him since this happened.”

We are so appreciative to know this man stayed and talked to him. I hope I can reach out to him to thank him along with all of the first responders.

The initial injuries. All on left side of body starting at his mouth. Front teeth broken and a molar that is split in two. Compound fracture of left arm at the elbow with a large open wound. Broken pelvis , broken femur, broken ankle. Lacerated spleen, kidney injury, fractures on L2, 3 and 4 of the spine. Head laceration that bled a lot. He did have to receive a good bit of blood at the ER.

Big concerns have been rahbdo (sp?), low oxygen and low hemoglobin. He recd more blood last night and this morning.

He has the surgery on his arm on Wednesday as the large open wound was of concern. The surgeon said it went well. He has been in traction since then for his pelvis. Today’s surgery will hopefully fix all of this. I believe they said 3 breaks and the ball pushing up into the area the breaks are at thus the weights are pulling it back a bit trying to lessen that pressure (looks like it is attached through his thigh…looks so painful).

The ankle should not need surgery but there is an issue with his foot that will be a problem for another day.

Other major obstacles are avoiding pneumonia as they did see some issues on CT scan. Upped the breathing treatments and needing him to make himself do more if the one he can do himself. Keeping his blood count up. Keeping his oxygen level up. Drops a lot at night in particular.

We just spoke to anesthesiologist and surgery will be delayed a bit. The surgeon had an emergency surgery and will be operating between two rooms. I was told he is one of the best orthopedic trauma surgeons in the area and he was very good in explaining the previous surgery to us.

I will post when he actually is taken to the OR and any updates we receive. Thank you everyone for all the offers and mainly the prayers. We are ok for now. I will sleep when he is through the scary stuff. Love to all and please pray for God to guide the hands of the surgeon and all his team. For Travis to stay strong. His body has been through so much trauma and he has been in such pain. For God to help him heal.

People have been amazing and I appreciate everyone!”

Travis has since had 2 major surgeries and is not out of the woods with his multiple injuries.

His parents are both missing work to be with him. They are looking at getting their home ready to accommodate the needs of Travis when he is released.

Not to mention Travis has his own bills piling up and now the expense of medical bills that he will be responsible for. His road to recovery will be long and expensive as he continues to miss work.

This family has been Saginaw community residents that have volunteered for many events and were a huge part of the Boswell bands success back when Travis was in school and there after.

They would give the shirts of their backs to helps someone. It is time we do the same.

Many of us our band parents that once a band parent always a band parent and our friendships run deep.

Please consider helping this family to relieve some of their financial burdens so that they can be with Travis and help him heal.

If you can’t give, then your prayers mean just as much and are greatly appreciated.