Brandon Foster

My stepfather, Tom, was driving home on Thursday, March 26th after another 12-hour graveyard shift when everything changed. At around 8:15 that morning, he lost consciousness, veered off the road, and crashed into a tree at high speed. The impact was so severe that paramedics had to use the jaws of life to get him out of the truck, and he was care-flighted to LSU Health in Shreveport. Tom suffered devastating injuries. His left knee joint was shattered, he had five compound fractures between his knee and hip, and his hip was also broken. Doctors also found a blood clot in his lungs, which they believe may have played a major role in causing him to lose consciousness. Because of the extent of his injuries, Tom cannot put any weight on his leg for three months and will need extensive rehabilitation to regain mobility and strength. Tom is a former Merchant Marine and now works as a subcontractor. He does not have health insurance, and his auto insurance will not come close to covering the medical costs he now faces. He was released from the hospital just six days later without a follow-up treatment plan, even though his recovery will be long and difficult. Tom is also the main source of income for the household, and it could take up to two years before he qualifies for any disability benefits. Then, just one week after Tom’s accident, my 68-year-old mother, Cynthia, was walking one of their dogs when the dog got spooked and pulled hard, causing her to fall off a newly built wheelchair ramp and break her right wrist. Now she cannot work either, and she is limited in how much she can do to care for Tom during his recovery. My mother, Cynthia, is a Jill of all trades. She raised two boys on her own as a single mother, including one who was disabled for life after an accidental gunshot wound to the head at four years old. She is no stranger to tragedy, but this has hit both of them harder than anything before. Cynthia and Tom are hardworking, resourceful people who have always been quick to help others. They are not the kind of people who ask for help for themselves, which is why I am asking for them now. Bills are piling up, credit cards are maxing out, and their options are running thin. I live three and a half hours away and do not have the resources to support them as much as I wish I could. I am asking for help to give them time to heal, keep up with basic living expenses, and find some stability while they recover. Thank you for reading, and thank you for anything you can give or share.