Help John Walk Again: Support His Recovery

Hi everyone,

After ski season ended, I was in a serious accident that changed everything. What began as back pain quickly turned into something much more severe. I now can’t walk without assistance, and most days I can only sit for 20 minutes before the pain becomes unbearable. I experience constant shooting pain down my leg into my foot, and I have to physically lift my own leg just to move or get into bed.

Over the past 11 weeks, I’ve been to the emergency room three times and urgent care twice, begging for relief. Getting proper care through Medicaid has been a nightmare—delays, rescheduled appointments, and constant fighting just to be seen. I finally received an MRI, which confirmed a serious injury: a herniated and torn disc leaking fluid, inflaming nerves and my spinal cord. Imagine pinching a straw—that’s what’s happening to my spine.

I finally had a breakthrough when a specialist reviewed my MRI and agreed to see me urgently. After weeks of being dismissed and shuffled around, this moment felt like a miracle. I’m now on the right medical path, but the road ahead will be tough. I’ll likely need surgery, and even the non-invasive options come with a recovery time of three months or more.

On top of everything, I don’t have a working vehicle and have had to crutch and bus to appointments, carrying groceries home in a small backpack multiple times a week. I do want to say our Park City community has been wonderful—seeing me struggling to carry groceries on crutches, so many strangers have taken time out of their day to stop and help me get my things home. I feel very blessed.

My amazing mom has helped all she can. I’ve sold what I could, but we’ve both reached our financial limits.

I’ve lost my income and can’t cover basic living expenses—rent, food, utilities, or medical transport. Asking for help is incredibly hard, but I’m out of options. If you're a friend, family member, or someone who simply wants to help, any donation—no matter how small—means the world to me.

Last summer, I was biking 200 miles a month and working five days a week. Today, I’m fighting just to stand. I’ve worked in aviation for over a decade—12 years in ground operations and I’m a licensed pilot—but returning to the airlines may no longer be feasible. I hope to continue serving the public in another way, possibly as a community public servant, following in my family’s footsteps being 3rd generation.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting me through this incredibly difficult time. I’m grateful beyond words, and I hope one day I can repay your kindness by giving back to others as I heal.

With love and thanks,

John