Woods Recovery Fund

Kiel has put quite a few miles on his bike this year, and unfortunately suffered a serious accident this past weekend on a steep curve within eyesight of home.

Kiel was lucky. His head and neck injuries should recover completely. Reconstructive facial surgery went well after being life flighted to Bend. However, this is the beginning of a long road, with other potential surgeries, a variety of therapies, and time off work and away from home.

When risk is a normal part of your life, from either work or play, you live “rigged to flip”, as Hazel put it. Kiel is a strong, resilient human being and with the support of friends, parents and siblings, and Hazel and Carson, we are confident he will recover quickly.

If Kiel, Hazel and Carson have ever brought you any love or laughter, think about repaying it in kind by sending them some light and positive thoughts. At a time of trauma we hope that our loved ones won’t have to be concerned with money, but the reality is surgery, recovery and travel are expensive. Asking for help is hard, and as much as we are sure that this endeavor will mortify Kiel, let's do it anyway.

They are currently recovering at the cabin in Camp Sherman and we are grateful that this family will be back to their lives of adventure and #johndaylivin in no time.

 
 
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Text from Hazel’s Instagram account: 

This is not a recent picture, but I love it for capturing Kiel’s wild spirit and new dad pride. For those who haven’t heard, Kiel was in a bike accident on Friday night. He’s okay, but his facial trauma is serious. He completed his first round of surgery yesterday and it’s going to be a long road to recovery. But most importantly, he’s alive and his brain seems unaffected. To my great relief, I’ve been catching glimmers of his sharp mind and witty humor.

We could not have gotten through yesterday’s emergency without the support of our family and John Day community, particularly the folks at MRC. We are probably not done leaning on you yet. Matt, Joey, Val- Words of gratitude fall short, but thank you   Kiel is the toughest man I know and this situation has only confirmed that he is the source of my strength, courage, and love. We are rigged to flip, but please keep us in your hearts as we brave the rapids ahead 

 

Update from Hazel:

I am feeling all this love and it warms my heart. Thank you all. As silly as it may sound, this long thread of love and support will be a place of light during dark times ahead. Recovery is expected to take awhile. But we’ll get there!!