Medical Injuries
Donation protected
My name is Larry "Lucky" Chesley USAF (Ret). I was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. On April 16.1966, my fighter jet was shot down over Hanoi.
The other pilot and I were able to eject from the plane; However, we were both immediately captured by the North Vietnamese Army and spent the next seven years as a Prisoner of War (POW/MIA), in Hanoi Vietnam.
I only mention this story, because I know and understand how it feels to live in pain every day and not being able to obtain any relief from that pain. For this reason, I decided to start a GoFundMe account to help my oldest son, Donald Chesley.
Donald is a retired/disabled police officer in Arizona. One night while working as a police officer on the late shift, Donald and another officer responded to a possible home invasion call at 3:30 A.M. While entering the dark house, Donald took a step forward and did not see the step that led from the entry way into the kitchen/living room area.
Donald injured his back when he missed a step and fell, while clearing the interior of the house, while the family of four were hiding upstairs in a bedroom, until the all clear was given.
He now has permanent nerve damage is his lower back (L-5, S-1, nerve root), which affects his right leg and foot. His average pain level(s) are 7-9, on the medical pain scale. He has gone through several medical epidurals, a back surgery and tried many different types of medications, trying to help relieve the pain. Everything he has tried has failed to help with the pain. Some days the pain is so bad he is unable to get out of bed.
Donald lost a two-year legal battle with the City he worked for at the time of the injury. Donald’s supervisor at the time failed to complete a simple “injured officer” report. Donald not only told his supervisor about his injury, there was another officer that witnessed him falling and getting injured.
Donald re-injured his back a couple months later during a defensive tactics class, while training with another officer. The other officer saw Donald fall backward and re-injured his lower back. This time Donald’s supervisor was in the same training class and she failed once again to complete the injured officer report.
The City Donald worked for, forced him to take an early retirement. The same City then denied him a medical retirement. The loss of income caused Donald and his wife to file for bankruptcy and then they lost their house to foreclosure.
The combination of the back surgery, the epidural(s) and the many different types of medications, caused Donald to develop a blood infection. The blood infection mainly attacked his jawbone, which destroyed his teeth from the roots upward. He needed to have all his teeth removed, plus portions of his jaw, to make sure all the infected bone was removed. Then a heavy dose of antibiotics to stop the infection.
His only treatment option now is to have his jawbone repaired and reconstructed with titanium bracing and bone grafts and then have dental implants. He tried dentures, but there was not enough jawbone left, in most areas, to allow any dentures to fit properly or securely.
Donald learned of a new medical procedure that might help with the nerve damage, by softening up the scar tissue that has encapsulated the L-5, S-1 nerve root. This is a relatively new medical procedure and his medical insurance will not pay for the procedure. This procedure is not a cure but has the possibility of reducing the pain levels.
The donations I am asking for and the money received are for Donald and his family. The money will be used for the jaw reconstruction and dental implants, plus the medical procedure for his lower back.
One reason this jaw reconstruction is so important, is because Donald is losing his ability to speak clearly. He has lost so much jawbone that it is becoming very difficult for him to form his moth to make the sound(s) of certain letters or combination of letters. The thinner the bone gets, the chances of it cracking open goes up, which would then expose the nerves to possible more infection and nerve pain.
I am asking for donations of $25 or any amount you can afford. The donations need to be collected by August 26,2019. I know it is a short window of time, but the clinic willing to do the jaw reconstruction is offering a $3000 to $5000 discount, depending on the amount of bone graft need. The offer ends at the end of August.
It was very difficult for Donald to come and ask for help. He has tried for several years to raise the money on his own, but he always put the needs of his family before his.
I want to make it clear that all the money being raised is going to Donald, NOT me. I’m in good health and doing well financially. I am asking each of you to help me with this important fund-raising event to help my son.
I would like to ask for one more simple favor. If you can donate or not, would each of you please pass the word through your Facebook page or other social media. The more people we can reach the better our odds are in reaching our goal.
I am very grateful for your consideration and help in this matter.
Respectfully,
Larry “Lucky” Chesley
The other pilot and I were able to eject from the plane; However, we were both immediately captured by the North Vietnamese Army and spent the next seven years as a Prisoner of War (POW/MIA), in Hanoi Vietnam.
I only mention this story, because I know and understand how it feels to live in pain every day and not being able to obtain any relief from that pain. For this reason, I decided to start a GoFundMe account to help my oldest son, Donald Chesley.
Donald is a retired/disabled police officer in Arizona. One night while working as a police officer on the late shift, Donald and another officer responded to a possible home invasion call at 3:30 A.M. While entering the dark house, Donald took a step forward and did not see the step that led from the entry way into the kitchen/living room area.
Donald injured his back when he missed a step and fell, while clearing the interior of the house, while the family of four were hiding upstairs in a bedroom, until the all clear was given.
He now has permanent nerve damage is his lower back (L-5, S-1, nerve root), which affects his right leg and foot. His average pain level(s) are 7-9, on the medical pain scale. He has gone through several medical epidurals, a back surgery and tried many different types of medications, trying to help relieve the pain. Everything he has tried has failed to help with the pain. Some days the pain is so bad he is unable to get out of bed.
Donald lost a two-year legal battle with the City he worked for at the time of the injury. Donald’s supervisor at the time failed to complete a simple “injured officer” report. Donald not only told his supervisor about his injury, there was another officer that witnessed him falling and getting injured.
Donald re-injured his back a couple months later during a defensive tactics class, while training with another officer. The other officer saw Donald fall backward and re-injured his lower back. This time Donald’s supervisor was in the same training class and she failed once again to complete the injured officer report.
The City Donald worked for, forced him to take an early retirement. The same City then denied him a medical retirement. The loss of income caused Donald and his wife to file for bankruptcy and then they lost their house to foreclosure.
The combination of the back surgery, the epidural(s) and the many different types of medications, caused Donald to develop a blood infection. The blood infection mainly attacked his jawbone, which destroyed his teeth from the roots upward. He needed to have all his teeth removed, plus portions of his jaw, to make sure all the infected bone was removed. Then a heavy dose of antibiotics to stop the infection.
His only treatment option now is to have his jawbone repaired and reconstructed with titanium bracing and bone grafts and then have dental implants. He tried dentures, but there was not enough jawbone left, in most areas, to allow any dentures to fit properly or securely.
Donald learned of a new medical procedure that might help with the nerve damage, by softening up the scar tissue that has encapsulated the L-5, S-1 nerve root. This is a relatively new medical procedure and his medical insurance will not pay for the procedure. This procedure is not a cure but has the possibility of reducing the pain levels.
The donations I am asking for and the money received are for Donald and his family. The money will be used for the jaw reconstruction and dental implants, plus the medical procedure for his lower back.
One reason this jaw reconstruction is so important, is because Donald is losing his ability to speak clearly. He has lost so much jawbone that it is becoming very difficult for him to form his moth to make the sound(s) of certain letters or combination of letters. The thinner the bone gets, the chances of it cracking open goes up, which would then expose the nerves to possible more infection and nerve pain.
I am asking for donations of $25 or any amount you can afford. The donations need to be collected by August 26,2019. I know it is a short window of time, but the clinic willing to do the jaw reconstruction is offering a $3000 to $5000 discount, depending on the amount of bone graft need. The offer ends at the end of August.
It was very difficult for Donald to come and ask for help. He has tried for several years to raise the money on his own, but he always put the needs of his family before his.
I want to make it clear that all the money being raised is going to Donald, NOT me. I’m in good health and doing well financially. I am asking each of you to help me with this important fund-raising event to help my son.
I would like to ask for one more simple favor. If you can donate or not, would each of you please pass the word through your Facebook page or other social media. The more people we can reach the better our odds are in reaching our goal.
I am very grateful for your consideration and help in this matter.
Respectfully,
Larry “Lucky” Chesley
Organizer
Larry Chesley
Organizer
San Tan Valley, AZ