Atleo Family - Funds for Care
Donation protected
Those of us who care for Taras Atleo and his family would like to fundraise to help them with various costs. Taras was injured on the job with BC Hydro and as a result, both hands were amputated. Work Safe has been very difficult and stressful to deal with and they have now cut off funds for his daily care. We are hoping to raise funds to help pay for his daily care, and all other medical costs as Taras is now unable to work. We feel he deserves so much more than what is being provided, and that him and his family deserve the help they need.
Attached is a letter written by his daughter, Krista, that has gone viral on Facebook, the Internet, and the media.
Please read and help spread ; letter from Krista August 9, 2015
Hi,
My name is Krista Atleo and I am 12 years old. I’m writing to tell you about my dad. My dad has been in the Electrical Field for 20 years. He has been with BC Hydro for 7 of those years. On November 8, 2014 somebody turned the power on when my dad was working at a sub station. The power was supposed to be off. My dad does not remember what happened that day. He doesn’t even remember driving to work that day. The power was off the day before when his co-worker was working in the same spot on a ladder. My dad was told the next day to go back on the same ladder that was there from the day before. Sometimes qualified electricians are allowed to go near electricity when the power is on. In this case, they have to put up “Barriers” and “Markings”. Barriers are like walls to protect you and “Markings” are visual signs to warn you that the power is ON. They did not have any Barriers or Makings when my dad was electrocuted. My dad almost died. 14,400 volts went into his body. The day of the accident my mom got a call from Royal Columbian Hospital. She picked up her purse, left my brother in charge and ran out the door to the car. She stayed at the hospital with my dad for about a month. Our Auntie Nancy stayed with us. We went to see my dad on weekends. He was in a coma. We would talk to him and pray. We cried a lot. We were all really scared. My Dad was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at VGH. At VGH they tried to do everything they could to save his hands, which were burnt to the bone. They had to cut his hands and wrists off because they were dead. Now that he has had all his surgeries and his arms have healed he has been trying to do things by himself but can’t. It is very hard without hands. I am learning that our fingers can do a lot. My dad can’t dress himself. He can’t zip zippers. He can’t open the lid to get the toothpaste out. He can’t open doors or windows. My dad used to cook all our meals. He used to fish and hunt. He can’t do these things anymore. He used to walk our dog. Now he can’t open his kennel or hold his leash. He used to take my sister and I bike riding and swimming. Now he can’t. He can’t drive his vehicle anymore. He can’t even put his seatbelt on. He just got hooks and the dog and cat are scared of them. They look weird. They don’t look like something that a human being should have to wear on his arms. They do not look friendly. They look like weapons. He put a big scratch on his new stove when he was wearing them. My dad hates them. He says he feels like a horse. He’s only had them less than 2 weeks. My dad would like bionic hands but Work Safe won’t pay for these. In fact, they don’t want to help with anything. My mom is burning out. She’s doing all the driving and grocery shopping on top of everything else that she has to do. I worry about my mom. His Union and BC Hydro installed a Bidet in the bathroom,. This is very helpful but if we go out in public or away my mom and my brother have to help him. Sometimes my mom has to go into the Men’s bathroom to help him. I help to feed him, I help him put his socks on and his shoes, I help him brush his teeth and floss. My sister helps to shave him, I help him call people on the phone, I help him with cooking, stuff like that. So after the accident we had these nice people called, We Care that would help my dad with the things that he can’t do but then Work Safe decided to take We Care away. My dad keeps getting frustrated because he can’t do anything without help. I worry about my dad when he has to stay home by himself. He dropped his medication on the floor when we were at a swim meet this weekend. He had to use his mouth to pick up each pill from the floor. I am really mad at Work Safe for not caring about my family. My mom doesn’t like the Work Safe, Case Manager because he sent my dad to a nursing home when he was still healing from his surgeries. My dad was put in a locked unit with people that have dementia. My dad got really depressed when he was there. He was 44 years old not 100. My mom says that it is really stressful to deal with work safe. She says that they are not supportive or compassionate. She says that it is not fair that they put all the responsibility on the family. Now they have left us high and dry with no explanation as to why they ended the support for my dad. All that they said was that, “it is time” Time for what??? My dad’s hands have not grown back. It is not fair! We are all mourning his old hands. They will never be replaced because they were a gift from God. Our family needs help. My dad will need support for the rest of his life and Work Safe is not giving him any. We need We Care back, specially because we will be starting school and we will be very busy, so please help us bring We Care back. Thank you for reading this letter. Sincerely, Krista Marcela Atleo
Attached is a letter written by his daughter, Krista, that has gone viral on Facebook, the Internet, and the media.
Please read and help spread ; letter from Krista August 9, 2015
Hi,
My name is Krista Atleo and I am 12 years old. I’m writing to tell you about my dad. My dad has been in the Electrical Field for 20 years. He has been with BC Hydro for 7 of those years. On November 8, 2014 somebody turned the power on when my dad was working at a sub station. The power was supposed to be off. My dad does not remember what happened that day. He doesn’t even remember driving to work that day. The power was off the day before when his co-worker was working in the same spot on a ladder. My dad was told the next day to go back on the same ladder that was there from the day before. Sometimes qualified electricians are allowed to go near electricity when the power is on. In this case, they have to put up “Barriers” and “Markings”. Barriers are like walls to protect you and “Markings” are visual signs to warn you that the power is ON. They did not have any Barriers or Makings when my dad was electrocuted. My dad almost died. 14,400 volts went into his body. The day of the accident my mom got a call from Royal Columbian Hospital. She picked up her purse, left my brother in charge and ran out the door to the car. She stayed at the hospital with my dad for about a month. Our Auntie Nancy stayed with us. We went to see my dad on weekends. He was in a coma. We would talk to him and pray. We cried a lot. We were all really scared. My Dad was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at VGH. At VGH they tried to do everything they could to save his hands, which were burnt to the bone. They had to cut his hands and wrists off because they were dead. Now that he has had all his surgeries and his arms have healed he has been trying to do things by himself but can’t. It is very hard without hands. I am learning that our fingers can do a lot. My dad can’t dress himself. He can’t zip zippers. He can’t open the lid to get the toothpaste out. He can’t open doors or windows. My dad used to cook all our meals. He used to fish and hunt. He can’t do these things anymore. He used to walk our dog. Now he can’t open his kennel or hold his leash. He used to take my sister and I bike riding and swimming. Now he can’t. He can’t drive his vehicle anymore. He can’t even put his seatbelt on. He just got hooks and the dog and cat are scared of them. They look weird. They don’t look like something that a human being should have to wear on his arms. They do not look friendly. They look like weapons. He put a big scratch on his new stove when he was wearing them. My dad hates them. He says he feels like a horse. He’s only had them less than 2 weeks. My dad would like bionic hands but Work Safe won’t pay for these. In fact, they don’t want to help with anything. My mom is burning out. She’s doing all the driving and grocery shopping on top of everything else that she has to do. I worry about my mom. His Union and BC Hydro installed a Bidet in the bathroom,. This is very helpful but if we go out in public or away my mom and my brother have to help him. Sometimes my mom has to go into the Men’s bathroom to help him. I help to feed him, I help him put his socks on and his shoes, I help him brush his teeth and floss. My sister helps to shave him, I help him call people on the phone, I help him with cooking, stuff like that. So after the accident we had these nice people called, We Care that would help my dad with the things that he can’t do but then Work Safe decided to take We Care away. My dad keeps getting frustrated because he can’t do anything without help. I worry about my dad when he has to stay home by himself. He dropped his medication on the floor when we were at a swim meet this weekend. He had to use his mouth to pick up each pill from the floor. I am really mad at Work Safe for not caring about my family. My mom doesn’t like the Work Safe, Case Manager because he sent my dad to a nursing home when he was still healing from his surgeries. My dad was put in a locked unit with people that have dementia. My dad got really depressed when he was there. He was 44 years old not 100. My mom says that it is really stressful to deal with work safe. She says that they are not supportive or compassionate. She says that it is not fair that they put all the responsibility on the family. Now they have left us high and dry with no explanation as to why they ended the support for my dad. All that they said was that, “it is time” Time for what??? My dad’s hands have not grown back. It is not fair! We are all mourning his old hands. They will never be replaced because they were a gift from God. Our family needs help. My dad will need support for the rest of his life and Work Safe is not giving him any. We need We Care back, specially because we will be starting school and we will be very busy, so please help us bring We Care back. Thank you for reading this letter. Sincerely, Krista Marcela Atleo
Organizer
Fawn White
Organizer
Nanaimo, BC