Stephen Wanamaker
Donation protected
Steve is Husband to Christine and Dad to Brooke & Kyle, and is the family's sole bread winner (Christine has serious medical issues which make full-time employment impossible). Steve is a proud member of the baseball umpiring community, a valued member of the Orange County Baseball Officials Association (OCBOA), and works various levels of collegiate baseball. So well-regarded is Steve, that he was appointed to work his first CIF Baseball Championship game this season.
On the morning of July 5th, while visiting two umpire friends working a game, Steve suffered a tragic accident when the chair he was sitting on unexpectedly broke, causing his neck to snap back as he crashed on to the parking lot pavement. He felt some back pain at the time, but shrugged it off and headed to a business appointment. Just 75 minutes later he began to lose feeling in his legs and realized he could not drive his car, and called 911 immediately and was rushed to the hospital. By late afternoon he had no feeling from the chest down. It was determined that due the seriousness of his condition, his surgeon felt that his best chance for recovery was to have emergency surgery to immediately remove the herniated disc in the C6-C7 vertebrae of the neck which was pinching the blood vessels in the spinal cord. If not treated aggressively, the loss of blood flow in the tissues of the spinal column could cause severe damage and limit his ability to walk and to perform basic motor functions. The procedure took 6 1/2 hours to perform, and his doctor inserted rods & pins to help stabilize the spine.
Steve and his family are so grateful for all the love and support they have received from the amazing Umpire community and our incredible family, and friends, They are thankful for the skill of the surgeon, and for the caring staff at Saddleback Medical Center. But Steve is just one inning into what for sure will be an extra-inning game. On Friday, July 13, Steve was moved to a Rehabilitation Center specializing in spinal cord injuries at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. The tough work is still ahead. His doctor has given him a 70% chance of walking again. He has regained some movement to his left side, but nothing on the right side to-date. Steve is an extremely hard worker, has a positive attitude and has a wonderful support team around him. He is expected to be in this facility for about a month, assuming progress is made.
About a year ago, Steve invested as sole owner/employee of Oasis Senior Advisors. As with any start up, cash flow begins quite slowly. Currently, Steve is not drawing any salary. Steve’s medical bills are mounting daily, the family needs your help. The fact is, this could have happened to any of us. Steve would be the first in line to support family, friends, and those in the baseball umpiring community in any way he could, had the roles been reversed. Steve desperately wants to be back on the ball field, but just being able to take walks with Christine again will bring them both overwhelming joy.
Any financial support would be greatly appreciated by this wonderful family. We have a dollar for dollar commitment for the first $12,000 donated and a 50 cents for the second $12,000 Please share this post with whom you think you think appropriate. Please pray for Steve's full recovery, and to give them all the strength to endure the difficulties and challenges ahead. We are behind you brother Steve, to support and to lift you. May God continue to look after you, and for the skill of the caregivers in charge of your case.
God Bless !!!
On the morning of July 5th, while visiting two umpire friends working a game, Steve suffered a tragic accident when the chair he was sitting on unexpectedly broke, causing his neck to snap back as he crashed on to the parking lot pavement. He felt some back pain at the time, but shrugged it off and headed to a business appointment. Just 75 minutes later he began to lose feeling in his legs and realized he could not drive his car, and called 911 immediately and was rushed to the hospital. By late afternoon he had no feeling from the chest down. It was determined that due the seriousness of his condition, his surgeon felt that his best chance for recovery was to have emergency surgery to immediately remove the herniated disc in the C6-C7 vertebrae of the neck which was pinching the blood vessels in the spinal cord. If not treated aggressively, the loss of blood flow in the tissues of the spinal column could cause severe damage and limit his ability to walk and to perform basic motor functions. The procedure took 6 1/2 hours to perform, and his doctor inserted rods & pins to help stabilize the spine.
Steve and his family are so grateful for all the love and support they have received from the amazing Umpire community and our incredible family, and friends, They are thankful for the skill of the surgeon, and for the caring staff at Saddleback Medical Center. But Steve is just one inning into what for sure will be an extra-inning game. On Friday, July 13, Steve was moved to a Rehabilitation Center specializing in spinal cord injuries at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. The tough work is still ahead. His doctor has given him a 70% chance of walking again. He has regained some movement to his left side, but nothing on the right side to-date. Steve is an extremely hard worker, has a positive attitude and has a wonderful support team around him. He is expected to be in this facility for about a month, assuming progress is made.
About a year ago, Steve invested as sole owner/employee of Oasis Senior Advisors. As with any start up, cash flow begins quite slowly. Currently, Steve is not drawing any salary. Steve’s medical bills are mounting daily, the family needs your help. The fact is, this could have happened to any of us. Steve would be the first in line to support family, friends, and those in the baseball umpiring community in any way he could, had the roles been reversed. Steve desperately wants to be back on the ball field, but just being able to take walks with Christine again will bring them both overwhelming joy.
Any financial support would be greatly appreciated by this wonderful family. We have a dollar for dollar commitment for the first $12,000 donated and a 50 cents for the second $12,000 Please share this post with whom you think you think appropriate. Please pray for Steve's full recovery, and to give them all the strength to endure the difficulties and challenges ahead. We are behind you brother Steve, to support and to lift you. May God continue to look after you, and for the skill of the caregivers in charge of your case.
God Bless !!!
Fundraising team: OCBOA Team Wanamaker (4)
Javier Navarro
Organizer
Laguna Niguel, CA
Stephen Wanamaker
Beneficiary
Gary Gilman
Team member
Terry Torline
Team member
Christopher Torres
Team member
