Funeral expenses for my brother

Donations are no longer needed, thank you all. Please see the below update-

My brother was struck by a hit and run driver in Tracy, Ca on November 28th, 2021. We have no idea how long he had been hit before a witness arrived who called 911. She stayed with my brother until the ambulance arrived.  We know unfortunately he suffered a lot. We also know that he was conscious and able to state his name to first responders. The ambulance said they chose to immediately take him to the nearest trauma hospital instead of any lower level closer hospital because of the extent of his injuries. He had a visibly broken leg and a terrible head injury. Within a couple hours of being at the hospital he became unresponsive. The doctors explained to us that the full extent of severe head injuries usually takes time. Immediately, the neurosurgeon completed a craniotomy in which part of his skull was removed to help relieve pressure. In addition to his brain injury, he also had a severely broken tibia and fibula and immense bruising and road rash. We were warned from the beginning, that he may not survive his injuries and that even if he did, he may only function minimally but we wouldn’t know until the swelling had gone down and the sedation removed. He sure fought hard the next 6 weeks. He developed pneumonia almost immediately on his right side. He required chest tubes placed to drain the fluid in his lung and lung cavity. He almost constantly had a fever, I learned this was due to the brain trying to reconnect. He had seizures and he had additional brain bleeds and strokes. We were eventually told by the neuro team that his frontal and temporal lobes on both sides were so damaged that the ct scans showed them mostly as necrosis- dead essentially. My brother never regained the ability to talk or communicate and remained on life support the entire time. 

 

My brother passed away January 8th at 12:15 pm. He was surrounded by his son and others that love him before he passed and I was able to be with him when he passed.

 

My brother has a 15 year old son who was the light of his life. From helping his son make rockets for science class (which won first place thanks to his dad!), to trying to teach teens life skills, he was there for his son and adored him. His son is so smart and wants to go to college and beyond, to be a neurosurgeon, which has been his son’s dream since his grandma (my brother and my mother) passed away from cancer in the brain three years ago. With his dad’s tragedy, he is even more invested in that goal. I also have a 3 year old son  who was another light of his life. He was always the first to get on the floor and play with my son. 

 

My brother is not suffering anymore and his soul can travel the world without his bodily limitations, just like he always wanted. I’m hoping he’s on a beach somewhere with a guitar and harmonica.

 

To help with funeral expenses, I am making this go fund me. Which feels so strange to ask for money. This tragedy was very unexpected and with him being so far away, there is a much higher cost simply for transport and additional preparation partly due to covid 19 precautions. We also immediately flew to California from Oregon (myself, my husband, my three year old and my brother’s son) when we found out that my brother was hit by a vehicle. We stayed one week, then flew back home when we were hopeful of a positive recovery. When we learned his prognosis last week, we flew back to California. 

 

We would like my brother to be buried next to our mom in Idaho. Amazingly, there is a plot directly next to our mom open. From talking with funeral homes near where my brother is currently and the funeral home in Idaho, the cost seems to be around 10-15 thousand. 

 

Thank you