Tyler Armstrong ATV accident

FINAL UPDATE:

62 days in hospital and Tyler was finally home June 16th.

It’s hard to imagine we started this journey that long ago with Tyler. Tyler is gaining strength everyday and walking independently. (A little shaky at times). He has the collar brace on for 12 weeks so a few more to go and then hopefully he can start strengthening his neck and back.

Tyler has numerous medical appointments in London every week and he will be going for physio for an extended length of time to get back to the best he can be.

His right arm is still not functioning and will be assessed in September again to determine if surgery can benefit him. Tyler is still unable to eat or drink so he is given nourishment through his g-tube as well as his medications.

He still has a long road ahead of him before he can return to work so everyone’s encouraging words and financial assistance is very much appreciated.

2nd update: Everyone’s support has been very much appreciated, every little bit does help. PLEASE SHARE

We are sharing this on our business page as well because we have had numerous concerned customers asking our staff how our son is doing since his accident April 16.

Today is DAY 28, Saturday May 13 and Tyler has finally made his way from the Critical Care Trauma Unit to the Trauma Rehabilitation floor at LHSC.

He has been able to make it about 5 feet with full assistant walking once this week. There is still no definite plan for his right arm but he will be transferred eventually to St Joes to the Upper Hand and Limb Clinic for surgery.

Pain levels are very high and he had a bit of a set back when his feeding tube was accidentally pulled out by a nurse and had to be removed Thursday. Tyler received a lot of his nerve damage and pain meds through the feeding tube so he’s going without those for about five days and they are looking at surgically going directly to his stomach with a new tube, so he will have an additional surgical procedure early next week. He’s still receiving nothing by mouth but hopefully next week he will be able to start if everything goes well with further testing.

I have no estimate of how long Tyler will be in hospital as it’s hard to believe he just spent 4 weeks in CCTU.

We are thankful for the donations and support already received. Now knowing the extent of his injuries, and not knowing how well he will respond to therapy, all we know for certain is that he will have a very long road to getting home and then continuing with out patient therapy.

Thank you, Jamie & Vickie Armstrong & family

UPDATE:

We are overwhelmed by the financial and emotional support from our amazing family, friends and neighbours to help Tyler. Thank you.

Tyler has been in the Critical Care Trauma Unit since April 16th. Now 17 days later, he has just come off of sedation with his main surgeries complete for now. He is still on a ventilator until they can fully wean him to breathe on his own.

Tyler has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him. He still has a broken collar bone, ribs and has no feeling or movement in his right hand and arm. The doctors are doing testing on his arm now that they have repaired all his facial fractures and body fractures.

Tyler will have a very long time in hospital and then rehabilitation appointments after his release home. We will be working on making his home more adaptable to his injuries as the physiotherapist advise us of his necessities. All money that is donated will be used to assist with Tyler’s necessities until the time when he is able to return to work. with everyone’s amazing support, including cash donations that have been dropped off, we are already half way to our goal! Thank you to everyone that has donated and shared!

You never think it’s going to happen to you, you are young and invincible.

In the early hours of Sunday April 16, Tyler was in an devastating ATV accident. He sustained broken orbital bones, nose, jaw, clavicle, ribs, femur, neck (C1-4 and C7) and also his thoracic area of the spine. He also has a bruised lung, kidney, and currently his right arm is not moving. He is slightly able to move his left arm and both legs thankfully. What saved his life initially was the fact that he was wearing a helmet.

On Sunday he had a titanium rod placed in his leg, and on Monday he had his C1-4 and thoracic break fused. They have left his C7 to heal in a collar so that he has some mobility. April 24th Tyler received plastic surgery to repair facial fractures listed above which includes his jaw wired shut. He is in a medically induced coma.

If anyone knows Tyler at all, they would know that he would always be the first to offer his help to anyone. Being young and invincible, he doesn’t have accident insurance on his mortgage, vehicle or his union does not offer MVA benefits. He has a very long road ahead of him, and will need extensive rehabilitation in the coming months and years including medical equipment and home renovations when we finally get to bring him home.

Special thanks to Tyler’s brother and the Brooke Alvinston fire department for their quick response, extensive knowledge and extraordinary skills. A huge thanks to everyone that worked on Tyler at Four Counties General Hospital Newbury and also currently at LHSC. Without all of you, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Tyler has a very long road ahead of him, and will have many additional expenses to help him reach his full potential.

Tyler is not one to ask for help but he purchased his home at 21 years of age and we would like him to still have that home when he is finally released.

Thank you for reading, hug your families tight, and WEAR A HELMET!