Paul Cooks Medical Fund

Saturday night, October 1st 2016. I received a call from my beautiful, beloved sister Patty Cook telling me that dad was in the ER at Jones Memorial Hospital because he had been run over by his tractor (turned out to be his backhoe) and it didn't look good: He was bleeding out of his ears, etc. Rick and I rushed to the hospital and they said that they were transporting him to Strong Memorial in Rochester by ambulance because it was too foggy to be flown by Mercy Flight. Since I did not know if I would ever see him again, I, along with Rick, Patty and Daniel went in to see him and encourage him to "hold on" and tell him that we loved him and that we were with him. The sight was the most horrific thing that I had ever experienced: I still feel like vomiting when I think about it. The odds of him surviving the tragedy were grim!!!! (We would later learn that the backhoe ran up his legs, over his back, shoulders and the right side of his face breaking all of his ribs, and his sternum and several bones in his face and obliterating his jaw. He was cleaning the barnyard and was standing between the rear and front wheel and turned the key on, not realizing that the backhoe was in gear).He was home alone at the time and he has no idea how he made it to the house from the barnyard to call 911, although, he recalls the entire incident: Dragging his broken body, covered in manure, over 80 yards to the house. Later, talking to the EMT's and the staff at the ER upon arrival with his half a broken face...........He knows the nurses that took care of him from day one at Strong. Who was kind caring and who was not (by name). He asked us not to leave him.............I promised him we wouldn't and he knows that and we haven't ........It has been 26 days since and I am grateful to say that our heavenly Father continues to heal him. Today, the catheter was removed and he was able to swallow mashed potatoes and blended up chicken and gravy, walk with a walker by himself, and smile and talk without too much of a droop on the right side of his face. HalleluYAH! What a Doctor, provider, healer, etc. we have. WE SURE DO LOVE YOU DAD! Dad is a proud, tough, hard working farmer (at 72 years old - He outworks most men half his age) and has no idea that I am setting up this account (since he would never ask for a handout) BUT many have asked if there was anything that they could do to help. Many that know my dad know that he would do anything that he could to help others and this would be a great gift to be able to help him with the exorbitant medical expenses from a month or more in Strong Memorial hospital and a long road to recovery!  This gift would mean so much to him (and our family) . We thank you for your love and support.
This is what "got" him!
Before the accident!