Kaleb's Medical Expenses
As Many of you know Kaleb Modde had a serious, accident on November 20th. While with friends he fell off of the back of a Jeep. Cracking his skull, which caused bleeding on the brain, also severely breaking his arm, the fall left him unconscious and asperating causing damage to his lungs. The kids who witnessed this horrible accident did the most amazing job, even though it was frantic, they got parents, they called 911, in some instances they were in more of a sound mind than the adults, (And my family and I can not thank each and every one of them enough). 
http://www.emissourian.com/local_news/county/boy-falls-off-jeep-bumper-seriously-hurt/article_9f30fb02-aff4-11e6-b02d-938d32bfc195.html
Corry and Mike Kalebs Parents, rushed to the scene after learning of an accident. As the Ambulance arrived to transport Kaleb to Mercy hospital in washington to be put on a helicopter and transported to St. Louis Childrens Hospital, Corry, Mike, and Kalebs brother Cameron were already on their way to the hospital and making the frantic phone calls to Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and Siblings.
The next few hours might have been the hardest hours of our families lives. The crews of nurses, doctors, and staff, at STL Childrens hospital are nothing short of amazing as they started the process of accessing what exactly was wrong with Kaleb. Even though our family was hurting and worried, the staff at the hospital kept us informed through the entire wait. At 2 am we finally got to go see Kaleb, a walk through the Pediatric Intinsive Care Unit that no one will ever forget. And I hope noone has to experiance this in their lives. Then there was Corry, so strong for Kaleb, fighting back tears trying to inform us family members what doctors had updated her on.
A few days passed with the updates not promising, Kaleb had a brain pressure monitor inserted into his skull. Scans every 6 hours (or so it seemed) and to medically uneducated people as ourselfs, everything seemed to just be getting worse. For Monday, Tuesday, and Wednsday Kaleb was put on medicine to paralyse him, regulate his brain pressures, regulate his blood pressures, a breathing tube and lung cleaning tube placed in him, brain wave electrodes placed on his head, it really was a hard sight to see for family and friends. (But everyone knows how necessary it is to getting Kaleb verticle again one day) And Kaleb, he was the star, Strong as could be, and he has never once tried to give up. Corry, stayed strong for Kaleb, herself, and Family. Mike, by Corry's side at every stage of these tramatic days.
Wednesday through the weekend, got a bit more scary for the family. Kaleb would have to be put in a deep coma for the weekend because of a rise in his brain pressures. This was the time frame the doctors were very affraid for Kaleb as his brain would hit its peak swelling from the accident, and cause his pressures to increase dramatically. Corry, Mike, and Grandma Patty by his side they held kalebs hands as he went into a deep coma. From the knowledge of the nursing staff, and doctors teaching my family how to read the "important numbers on the machines" (They dumb it down for us non edumacated folk). They watched as Kalebs brain waves faded down to a constant flat line. Kaleb now in a medically induced Coma, two skull pressure monitors installed (one to monitor, and one to release pressure), a broken arm that requires surgery (that cannot be performed until his brain is in a more stable state), a breathing machine hooked up to breath for him. A tube to his stomach to collect his stomach acid so he does not have any stomach issues. Being fed all of his vitamins and nutriants through his veins, along with multiple blood infusions to bring his red blood cell count back up. (P.S. If you can please donate blood, until you see it first hand you really do not understand how caring and important that it is, or at least I didnt)
Monday came with one positive as they took kaleb off of the coma medicine and would begin to let him wake up. still keeping him paralysed for the time being. I was personally in the room with Corry as we noticed his brain wave monitor start to arch. I TOLD YOU KALEB WAS A FIGHTER.
And I want to thank every single Doctor, Nurse, or Staff Member who works in any NICU,PICU, or ICU. You all are Truly Heros. To walk into a wing of a hospital as sad as that and have smiles on your face, and determination in your hearts, is absoluty the greatest thing for families in my situation. And to every Nurse and Doctor out there no matter where you work, we thank you too. Because of your hard work, your drive, your care, you make our lives easier. I hope that you read this and know that the Vastine's, Modde's, Kunkel's, and everyone else that allowes me to speak for them thank you for everything you do.
This is all I have for you on updating Kaleb. My family wants to thank you for every prayer you have given. Every comment you have said on facebook, through text, over the phone, in person, has not fallen on deaf ears. Our family has to remain strong!!!
((((Our Family has not had a great november))))
Our Father, Kalebs Grandfather, had a stroke on October 31st. As a family we spent a week with Dad in the hospital, followed by a second week in rehab. The family was tested, but the nurses and doctors were able to find a cause and get the right medicine into Dad before any major damage was done.
Dad is back home now, with daily medicines, and weekly speech therapy sessions to get him back to the way he was. This stroke has put dad in a small limbo of early retirement and disability. It has been a family effort to be there for Mom and Dad, making sure that neither of them has to stress too much.
Now that Kaleb has had his accident, it has spread our family thin. Corry who was there for dad is now focused solely on getting Kaleb back. Knowing Kalebs fight is going to be a long uphill battle, Corry has had to take an extended leave of absence from work. Corry, being as strong as she is for everyone around her, willing to drop everything for anyone, is going to need our help. while she is a very prideful person. She is not one to ask for hand outs, this is where uncle Hoss (what the family calls me) is asking that we give her a hand in this time of need. A prayer will go just as far as any dollar given. As life goes on, as Kalebs fight goes on, Corry and Mike will be fighting every step along the way with Kaleb. Unfortunatly, life and bills continue as well. I truly believe noone can ever be prepared for what corry and Mike are going through right now, Financially, but even more important emotionally. Mike, has taken time off to be with Corry, to keep Corry strong as well.
As a family, as friends we are asking for your help. Anything will help. We as a family are fighting two fights right now, stretched very thin, and do not have the financial stability we need during these very trying times. We are a very prideful family, but we know when we need support. Prayers are most important, but keeping Corry and Mike strong to support Kaleb, and their growing family is going to take some help.
I am setting this Goal to help supplement Corry and Mikes leave of absense pay, to keep their rent payed and utilities caught up. So when the medical bills start to roll in they are not in a hole so deep they cannot climb out of. We thank you so much for reading this long winded, and im sure Gramatically errored message, but it is the best way we can update you all at once. Thank you all so much.
