Mark's TBI Recovery- Motorcycle Accident
Donation protected
On May 26th, 2019, Mark was riding his motorcycle in Arizona when all of a sudden someone from the oncoming traffic tried to pass several cars at once. The driver in the car was speeding and in order for Mark to avoid a head on collision he swerved, and laid his bike down and went tumbling into the ditch. The driver of the car continued to drive off, until being stopped by witnesses at the accident and eventually the local police. In a split second her poor decision changed Mark's life forever.
Mark was wearing a helmet, but sustained a frontal lobe traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, lots of road rash but nothing broken. While he is incredibly lucky to be alive, the past two months have been nothing short of difficult.
During the 3 weeks Mark was in the ICU he battled the brain injury, pneumonia, severe confusion and had a very hard time regaining his ability to swallow. He has been very confused since the accident, often not knowing where he is or being able to consistently remember people.
Mark was transferred to a rehabilitation center on June 17th, which allowed him to walk out the door and discharge himself even in his very confused state. He has been back in the hospital since July 1, waiting for approval of a better rehabilitation center that can handle his confusion. Every option that we have been presented with has been either denied by the facility or denied by insurance. He has essentially been in the hospital for over 2 weeks trying to get back to therapy. He has made great strides and is showing improvement, but doctors are recommending cognitive therapy and a safe environment where he cannot just wander off.
We have spent the past two weeks hopeful for a good fit for him and have been incredibly let down by insurance and medical facilities. At this time, all options for acute rehab and skilled nursing facilities have been denied. The only remaining option for Mark to be able to receive therapy is to do so on an outpatient basis. Because Mark isn't anywhere near ready to go home and function at home safely while Susan is at work, our only option is a group home for brain injury patients. Insurance will not cover group homes.
This is an incredible cost to undertake and we are still uncertain about future care needs and cost. But we all feel this is necessary to give Mark the best chance to regain his life back. Asking for help is the last thing any of us have wanted to do and Mark would be pissed if he knew we were doing this, which is why this hasn't been done any sooner. Mark's wife, Susan, is working two jobs to keep up with just the day to day bills, let alone the medical bills rolling in, even with insurance.
Mark is a husband, Dad to his three grown children and Susan’s daughter; as well as Papa Mark to 5 grandkids. Please help us to get him the help he needs so he can get back to living the life the careless driver took away from him.
If you feel moved to donate, every little bit helps and we would be incredibly grateful. All proceeds from the GoFundMe account will go directly toward Mark's care and medical bills.
Mark was wearing a helmet, but sustained a frontal lobe traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, lots of road rash but nothing broken. While he is incredibly lucky to be alive, the past two months have been nothing short of difficult.
During the 3 weeks Mark was in the ICU he battled the brain injury, pneumonia, severe confusion and had a very hard time regaining his ability to swallow. He has been very confused since the accident, often not knowing where he is or being able to consistently remember people.
Mark was transferred to a rehabilitation center on June 17th, which allowed him to walk out the door and discharge himself even in his very confused state. He has been back in the hospital since July 1, waiting for approval of a better rehabilitation center that can handle his confusion. Every option that we have been presented with has been either denied by the facility or denied by insurance. He has essentially been in the hospital for over 2 weeks trying to get back to therapy. He has made great strides and is showing improvement, but doctors are recommending cognitive therapy and a safe environment where he cannot just wander off.
We have spent the past two weeks hopeful for a good fit for him and have been incredibly let down by insurance and medical facilities. At this time, all options for acute rehab and skilled nursing facilities have been denied. The only remaining option for Mark to be able to receive therapy is to do so on an outpatient basis. Because Mark isn't anywhere near ready to go home and function at home safely while Susan is at work, our only option is a group home for brain injury patients. Insurance will not cover group homes.
This is an incredible cost to undertake and we are still uncertain about future care needs and cost. But we all feel this is necessary to give Mark the best chance to regain his life back. Asking for help is the last thing any of us have wanted to do and Mark would be pissed if he knew we were doing this, which is why this hasn't been done any sooner. Mark's wife, Susan, is working two jobs to keep up with just the day to day bills, let alone the medical bills rolling in, even with insurance.
Mark is a husband, Dad to his three grown children and Susan’s daughter; as well as Papa Mark to 5 grandkids. Please help us to get him the help he needs so he can get back to living the life the careless driver took away from him.
If you feel moved to donate, every little bit helps and we would be incredibly grateful. All proceeds from the GoFundMe account will go directly toward Mark's care and medical bills.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristin Retterath
Organizer
Glendale, AZ
Susan Bergstrom
Beneficiary
