Skyler and Tim's Recovery Fund

On Friday May 18th at about 4:00 pm My brother, Skyler Kienle and my step-dad, Tim Kienle were driving back to Gunnison from work in Lake City. They had just gone through miller flats when Tim noticed that Skyler was unconscious while driving. Tim could not rouse him. (Skylers’ doctors currently think he was unconscious due to a possible medical condition such as sleep apnea). They crashed rolling the truck at least four times. Due to a previously broken drivers side seatbelt, Skyler was ejected from the vehicle through the windshield. Skyler was airlifted to St. Mary’s in Grand Junction.  He suffered severe lacerations on his head, broke his neck at C-1, C-5 and C-6. He also has fractured his upper thoracic spine and his sternum. His shoulder was dislocated and broken. He also bruised one of his lungs and has many minor cuts all over his body. He has gone through his first surgery. He has numerous staples in his head from the wounds. A pin and two screws were placed to fuse C-5 and C-6. He will have a neck collar and a brace to heal C-1 and his upper spinal thoracic fractures. Currently the swelling from the neck surgery is so extensive that he has to have a breathing tube because doctors are concerned about his airway being obstructed. He is scheduled to have another surgery on Wednesday for his broken shoulder.  Skyler is facing months of pain and rehabilitation. The good news is that he has full mobility and full brain function. Tim has suffered lower spinal compression fractures and has been released from the hospital with a back brace, he will be unable to work for at least eight weeks. Currently Kathy (Skyler’s Mom) is in Grand Junction at the hospital with Skyler. Tim is in significant pain and is alone in Almont. We are asking that if people can not make a monetary donation that they check in and visit with Tim and possibly bring him a meal so he can get the rest he needs. All in all we are very thankful that they are both alive and are expected to fully recover. We would appreciate any assistance no matter how small. They both will be unable to work for months and with little to no savings will struggle to pay for bills and food. Their only working vehicle was also totaled and they only had liability coverage. And then there are the medical bills...Skyler did not have health insurance at the time of the crash and Tim will have high deductibles.