Stand By Paul
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Stand by Paul
On October 16, 2017, what started out as a normal day of going to work for Paul, ended very differently than any day he’s had before. On this day, Paul’s life as he and his family knew it was turned upside down. Paul was working on a landscape project when he was completely blindsided and hit by a coworker in a F-450 work truck. It is believed the truck was traveling approximately 40 mph upon impact. There was no breaking to slow down; there was nothing in between the truck and Paul to absorb any of the force from impact. It was just Paul’s flesh and the metal of the truck colliding. Paul was the first of four individuals on the job site who were taken to local area hospitals for injuries.
Upon arrival to the hospital, Paul was assessed and promptly put into ICU where he stayed for 10 days. It was determined he had suffered a deep laceration on the top of his skull, several broken ribs, multiple fractures in his lower back, and a broken left fibula. As if all that isn’t enough, his sacroiliac joint was separated on the left side of his pelvis which required surgery to fuse the joint back together with titanium rods. Due to the joint separation, the pubic bone was dislocated as well. He also suffered lacerations on his left kidney and adrenal gland, which was monitored very closely to make sure he didn’t have internal bleeding. Paul suffered very severe bruising and scrapes all up his back on the left side. Most of Paul’s major injuries occurred on his left side, leaving him unable to put any weight on that side for at least 8 weeks. Therefore he cannot walk unassisted until that time. Paul was just recently moved to a rehabilitation center where he is going to learn how to walk and maneuver with a walker and wheelchair to help regain strength. He is expected to be there for at least the next four weeks or longer depending on his progress. Paul is also scheduled to undergo speech therapy as well during this time because of his head injury.
Paul is a man who loved doing his job, he loves being out in nature, and making people’s landscape dreams become a reality. The best part of all this, Paul was doing what he loved and was able to provide for his fiancé Melissa and their two year old son Liam. So the saying, “Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life”, is something Paul was able to live until the afternoon of October 16, 2017. But I find that quote a little ironic considering the job Paul loved, is what most of us would consider extremely hard work. He loved being outdoors and creating things. He did not like the typical job of being confined to a cubical. He’s very creative and loves turning something not so great into something beautiful. So this is why I want to tell his story and ask you all that read this to help turn this tragic incident into something beautiful. Stand by Paul in this time of need. Stand by Paul and let him know his family will be taken care of, especially with the holidays coming up. Stand by Paul and send the message that all he needs to worry about is getting back on his own two feet. So I ask you to Stand by Paul and stand in the void while he temporarily can’t stand on his own.
Paul and his family have a long road ahead with his injuries and recovery. As of now there is no set time on when Paul will be able to return to work. Upon leaving rehabilitation, it is unknown as to what type of assistance or medical equipment will be needed to help at home with the continuation of the rehabilitation process. There are many unknowns left to be determined as this time. So this GoFundMe is set up to help offset all medical, travel, and daily living expenses Paul and his family will need over the next few months. So please do what you can by either contributing monetarily, through prayer, and even by simply sharing. Help us #StandByPaul during this time. Thank you all in advance. May God Bless you all.
* Updates will be provided on Paul's status and rehabilitation by his fiance, Melissa Cooper.
* This incident is still under investigation as to determine what was the reason for the driver to have ran off the road hitting his coworkers
http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Four-people-hit-by-truck--451141263.html
On October 16, 2017, what started out as a normal day of going to work for Paul, ended very differently than any day he’s had before. On this day, Paul’s life as he and his family knew it was turned upside down. Paul was working on a landscape project when he was completely blindsided and hit by a coworker in a F-450 work truck. It is believed the truck was traveling approximately 40 mph upon impact. There was no breaking to slow down; there was nothing in between the truck and Paul to absorb any of the force from impact. It was just Paul’s flesh and the metal of the truck colliding. Paul was the first of four individuals on the job site who were taken to local area hospitals for injuries.
Upon arrival to the hospital, Paul was assessed and promptly put into ICU where he stayed for 10 days. It was determined he had suffered a deep laceration on the top of his skull, several broken ribs, multiple fractures in his lower back, and a broken left fibula. As if all that isn’t enough, his sacroiliac joint was separated on the left side of his pelvis which required surgery to fuse the joint back together with titanium rods. Due to the joint separation, the pubic bone was dislocated as well. He also suffered lacerations on his left kidney and adrenal gland, which was monitored very closely to make sure he didn’t have internal bleeding. Paul suffered very severe bruising and scrapes all up his back on the left side. Most of Paul’s major injuries occurred on his left side, leaving him unable to put any weight on that side for at least 8 weeks. Therefore he cannot walk unassisted until that time. Paul was just recently moved to a rehabilitation center where he is going to learn how to walk and maneuver with a walker and wheelchair to help regain strength. He is expected to be there for at least the next four weeks or longer depending on his progress. Paul is also scheduled to undergo speech therapy as well during this time because of his head injury.
Paul is a man who loved doing his job, he loves being out in nature, and making people’s landscape dreams become a reality. The best part of all this, Paul was doing what he loved and was able to provide for his fiancé Melissa and their two year old son Liam. So the saying, “Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life”, is something Paul was able to live until the afternoon of October 16, 2017. But I find that quote a little ironic considering the job Paul loved, is what most of us would consider extremely hard work. He loved being outdoors and creating things. He did not like the typical job of being confined to a cubical. He’s very creative and loves turning something not so great into something beautiful. So this is why I want to tell his story and ask you all that read this to help turn this tragic incident into something beautiful. Stand by Paul in this time of need. Stand by Paul and let him know his family will be taken care of, especially with the holidays coming up. Stand by Paul and send the message that all he needs to worry about is getting back on his own two feet. So I ask you to Stand by Paul and stand in the void while he temporarily can’t stand on his own.
Paul and his family have a long road ahead with his injuries and recovery. As of now there is no set time on when Paul will be able to return to work. Upon leaving rehabilitation, it is unknown as to what type of assistance or medical equipment will be needed to help at home with the continuation of the rehabilitation process. There are many unknowns left to be determined as this time. So this GoFundMe is set up to help offset all medical, travel, and daily living expenses Paul and his family will need over the next few months. So please do what you can by either contributing monetarily, through prayer, and even by simply sharing. Help us #StandByPaul during this time. Thank you all in advance. May God Bless you all.
* Updates will be provided on Paul's status and rehabilitation by his fiance, Melissa Cooper.
* This incident is still under investigation as to determine what was the reason for the driver to have ran off the road hitting his coworkers
http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Four-people-hit-by-truck--451141263.html
Organizer
Melissa Cooper
Organizer
Holland, OH
