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Troy's Tragic Tale

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On January 11th 2017 you open the garage door to drive yet decide to take the healthy option and walk.  No less than five seconds after that every day decision your life changes forever.  Troy is now a quadriplegic struggling to regain feeling let alone movement in his arms, legs, hands and feet.  He is unable to feed himself and carry out any of the normal daily living activities we take for granted.

Imagine this.  Over the past year or so you have lost over 200 pounds, started a new job, can now buy clothes right off the rack for the first time in forever, made new friends, started an exciting new career all culminating in a whole new life of adventure and excitement within your grasp.  You have a new lease on life full of energy and happy to be healthy and looking forward to a family cruise in 2017. 

 At approximately 08:50 am Troy slipped and fell on the ice breaking his neck in four places, C-3/C-4 and C-5/C-6.  Laying on his icy driveway, unable to feel anything from his neck down, cold and helpless he sees several people pass by on their way to work and no-one stops to help.  Luckily a neighbour (unknown to him) looks out her window and sees Troy realizing something is not right.  Human compassion takes over and she calls 911 before even going out to check on him.  

The paramedics arrive and find no feeling or sensation below the neck.  Troy, speaking very slowly and having a difficult time breathing they cut off his new jacket, the symbol of pride of renewed healthy living.  They load him onto the backboard to rush him to the hospital.  He was taken off to surgery within a few hours as his injuries were life threatening .  Given the acute neurological event two neurosurgeons were required for the operation.   The surgery was planned for six hours but took more than eight hours to complete.

Two days later the breathing tube was taken out as a trial basis. One lung is weaker and the other still working.  The risk of a tracheotomy averted for now but still not out of the woods.  It is winter in Ottawa, cold and snowy, so the risk of a cold, let alone pneumonia, could have life threatening consequences.  Still no movement or feeling below the neck.

Albeit the Canadian medical and provincial systems provide care, there are a lot of things that are not covered.  Post medical rehabilitation, personal care assistance, home modifications, a specialized electric wheelchair, multiple lifts, medical supplies, a hospital bed, and the list goes on. 

In the first year some typical costs are: electric wheelchair: $30,000; patient lifts; $10-20,000; commode - $5,000, modified living space - $30-40,000 and the list goes on for daily living, etc.  Costs associated with paralysis that are not covered by any medical system or insurance are estimated over a lifetime to exceed well beyond $3 million.  With this, we have started this campaign.

Those who know Troy, this should come as no surprise, Troy continues to have a positive mindset despite what the cruelty of life has presented him.  He has already faced many challenges and even with these multiple non-visible scars he has survived and thrived.

Troy is the type of person who would come to the aid of a friend, a stranger, or anyone in the time of need.  Now it is our turn to help him and payback his selfless gratitude.

Whether Troy is your co-worker, friend, neighbour or just a stranger this is your chance to changeTroy’s Tragic Tale into one of hope.  He needs your help.

The funds via this campaign are being collected by his support team (his brother and sister-in-law) in order to enable the purchase of much needed medical equipment that he will need once he gets out of rehab.  ALL funds collected will go directly to Troy for his road to recovery.

http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1050213&binId=1.1164511&playlistPageNum=1

Thank you for your support.

Team Troy

Organizer

Troy Fundraiser
Organizer
Ottawa, ON

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