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Help with Chase's Road to Recovery

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On March 23, 2019 Chase Pickens fell from a 2nd story window (approx. 25 ft) and landed on a slab of concrete, taking the entire impact of the fall on his face. Chase is 24 years old and is 6'3" tall and weighed about 235 lbs at the time of the accident. Luckily Chase's brother Zach was there and was able to call 911 right away and keep him on his side so he wouldn't choke on his own blood until help arrived. First responders worked quickly to get a breathing tube in him before his throat swelled completely shut in the ER.
     As to be expected, Chase had life threatening injuries. He spent 17 days in ICU at Mercy One in Iowa. He broke his right occipital bone, crushed his entire face from the eye sockets down (that required emergency facial surgery and had to have a tracheotomy),he had bleeding on the brain, multiple rib fractures,  neck fractures (C1, T1, & C6), L1 fracture in lower back, multiple spinal chips, left pelvic fracture, bruising of the lungs, fluid in the lungs, drug induced coma for 9 days, and a machine was breathing for him 100%...13 of the 17 days he was there.
        Everyday was touch and go. Somedays it was minute by minute or hour by hour. They kept him on a high dose of pain killers and sedation and slowly tried to ween him off of both, but it didn't always go so well as his BP and heartrate would shoot up sending him back into the red zone again. Stimulation was not encouraged which meant that family and friends were not allowed to touch or even talk to him most of the time, as it sent his vitals into the danger zone. Imagine being a parent and not being able to touch your child. George and Tonia would sneak in hand holdings as the nurses allowed, but the first couple weeks were critical that stimulation was kept at a minimum. As the doctors gave orders to slowly ween him off sedation and he was able to eventually tolerate it at a slow rate, Chase started slowly trying to do nurses commands and that was  an amazing day for his parents, family, and friends to see and hear about. His family never left his side and spent the entire days/nights at the hospital by his side. Chase finally opened his eyes. It was obvious that his left side was showing hardly any signs of movement at all and having a  TBI was proving to be difficult for him to be able to write. Eventually       some words could be made out...so communicating with Chase could take place a little bit and over a few days movement in the left side did increase.
    When it was deemed safe enough to do so, Chase was transported by ambulance from ICU in Iowa to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Ne. on April 9th.  Over the next 21 days, Madonna worked with Chase in all sorts of therapies to help him get better. He had physical therapy, speech, personal care, vision therapy (as he has to wear a prism for awhile to correct his vision since his left eye is slightly higher than the right due to his brain injury), etc. Along with respiratory treatments, swallow studies (he's had 3 due to liquids going down his airway before speech therapy was able to strengthen his muscles...so he could get rid of the feeding tube and actually do his liquid diet. He was on a liquid diet for 6 weeks before they cut the wires. So he can now open his mouth this week. He's still on a soft diet. The arches that are wired will not be coming out for at least another 4 weeks, as some of the bone in his mouth has still not grown back)
       Since Chase has been at Madonna he has gone from a wheelchair to walking, from writing to talking pretty well with a cap on his trachea, to needing assistance to getting up to go to the bathroom on his own (as long as his back brace is on. His neck brace is on 24/7) He did so well that they labeled him 'independent' in the hospital. Meaning no wheelchair, no bathroom assistance, he can walk the halls or outside as long as he has someone trained in trachea care with him at all times. Great news for him!! Unfortunately, that means he wasn't going to be approved  for the extra 2 weeks stay as inpatient at Madonna. This meant his mom would have to be taught in a matter of days how to take care of a trachea at home, line up all medical equipment needs for that plus the oxygen he needs at night and breathing treatments he gets 4 times a day. Plus figure out all the medicines he's receiving and doses per day. That's a lot but they told her unfortunately that's how insurance works. If these folks didn't have enough to worry about already, they have to worry about stuff they haven't been trained in? Carrying a suction machine around to suction his trachea out and a pair of clippers in case he got sick so she could cut his wires? That's stressful. I watch all this and I don't know if I could do it.
    Chase has beat all odds and is nothing short of a miracle. He shouldn't be here, but we are all so grateful and blessed that he is. His journey is far from over. Chase started Day Therapy at Madonna this last week and they were told he will have 6 weeks of this at least. Then they can expect to go into the outpatient program. The same program that his father is in. Yes...his father is unfortunately/fortunately at Madonna for a brain    injury, as well, that he suffered at his job 2 years ago.  George has been receiving Work Comp for his injury and has had insurance since his accident. However, 2 weeks ago George was informed that he was terminated. On top of everything else going on the company he worked for decides to terminate him now? This means Chase will be without insurance. (However, his mom is currently checking into assistance for healthcare) 
        It's already costing this family allot to go back and forth to Lincoln in gas and just eating/living expenses out of state. That doesn't include co-pays for every doctor visit, medications, necessities such as food when they're out of town, the cost of keeping 2 households going when there's nothing coming in. Thank goodness they were allowed to bring an RV down to live in at Madonna, but there's no running water. They have to buy water, etc. But they do have electricity which is a blessing because they need it for Chase's oxygen and breathing treatments. We all feel the toll that it's taken on our family and friends and wish there was more that we can give....but more so the toll that it has taken on the family...it's been a lot emotionally, physically, and mentally...even though they keep saying they're okay...personally we know they're not.  
      The most amazing thing to witness is just pure love and support that has been shown by family and friends. This is a mother and father that has been divorced for years, however, they've remained friends for the sake of their children. And during a time like this...there is nothing more refreshing than being able to focus on the main reason we are here without having to deal with other issues between spouses and ex-family members. The main focus has been on Chase and that's where it should be. How crazy is that? That these beautiful people can love, cry, laugh, hug, eat together and just be together without animosity and bitterness towards each other. The goal for years of Chase's parents was to make sure that their kids came first. Personally I believe they've achieved that, especially during such a tragic time such as this and just seeing nothing but one goal and agenda on everyone's mind (and still on everyone's mind) is Chase just getting better. That's the way it should be.
     Chase has come a long way and he's strong but not Superman strong because obviously he's not very good at flying. (Inside joke between us ;)...we call him Ironman because he didn't break any of his teeth!) But we know Chase has a long road ahead of him but he has yet to let any of this get him down. He is determined to stand strong and take the hits good or bad with a smile on his face and a determination to conquer this without giving up.  We know his parents are also struggling with trying to keep up with everything being thrown their way at the moment with no clear view of what's in sight but they also are putting on a brave face, in spite of it all.
    Chase has always been an amazing person. He's always been there for his friends and family in need, no questions asked. He loves to brighten your day (no matter how shitty his day may be...he'd never tell you), he will always greet you with lots of smiles and hugs and let you know that you are never alone in this world....you can always call him. Day or Night. 
      Chase's favorite saying is 'Cheeks Up....You're Not Dead Yet.' 
To some it may be sad...but to others...he has saved many. To those he doesn't know on a personal level, he usually just says, 'Cheeks Up.'
     For anyone that read this all the way through...thank you. We're not asking for a lot. If you can just donate $5 it would truly be appreciated by this family. Any amount will be helpful. Thank you for your time and God Bless.

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Donations 

  • Andrea Salisbury
    • $50 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Jim Girard
Organizer
Sioux City, IA
Tonia Girard
Beneficiary

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