Get Max Mobile Again!
Donation protected
Donations are being sought here for Max's prosthetic leg, which may cost as much as $50,000, and other recovery-related expenses that will not be covered or reimbursed by insurance (if/when he becomes eligible for coverage).
On September 18, 2013, 22 year old Max. was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the traumatic amputation of his left leg, severe breakage of his left arm, along with lots of other related injuries. Max had no health insurance (or motorcycle insurance) at the time of the accident.
The trauma center (hospital) Max was airlifted to for emergency treatment literally threw him out with a handful of painkillers as soon as he was "stabilized" just over week after his admission. The hospital's discharge plan was to send Max, who continues to suffer agonizing pain, to a local homeless shelter with no mobility equipment or follow-up medical care. This was solely because he had no insurance to cover continued inpatient care at the hospital or to cover inpatient rehabilitation.
With no appropriate/safe place to recover, Max was taken in by a close family friend who was able to offer Max the living room couch in his one-bedroom apartment. Without insurance, Max has not been able to establish ongoing follow-up physician care. Nevertheless, Max has an amazingly positive attitude and - when he is not in too much pain - he has been able to begin to care for himself using a borrowed wheelchair and his awesome physical strength and determination to recover and return to independence.
The medical bills have already started rolling in (the trauma helicopter transport bill alone was $50,000!). While Max hopes/expects to obtain MediCal coverage (California's Medicaid program) at some point, there are so many immediate and long term care needs that will not be met without personal funding. With appropriate healthcare and rehabilitation, Max will return to full health and will once again be an independent and valuable contributor to society.
On September 18, 2013, 22 year old Max. was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the traumatic amputation of his left leg, severe breakage of his left arm, along with lots of other related injuries. Max had no health insurance (or motorcycle insurance) at the time of the accident.
The trauma center (hospital) Max was airlifted to for emergency treatment literally threw him out with a handful of painkillers as soon as he was "stabilized" just over week after his admission. The hospital's discharge plan was to send Max, who continues to suffer agonizing pain, to a local homeless shelter with no mobility equipment or follow-up medical care. This was solely because he had no insurance to cover continued inpatient care at the hospital or to cover inpatient rehabilitation.
With no appropriate/safe place to recover, Max was taken in by a close family friend who was able to offer Max the living room couch in his one-bedroom apartment. Without insurance, Max has not been able to establish ongoing follow-up physician care. Nevertheless, Max has an amazingly positive attitude and - when he is not in too much pain - he has been able to begin to care for himself using a borrowed wheelchair and his awesome physical strength and determination to recover and return to independence.
The medical bills have already started rolling in (the trauma helicopter transport bill alone was $50,000!). While Max hopes/expects to obtain MediCal coverage (California's Medicaid program) at some point, there are so many immediate and long term care needs that will not be met without personal funding. With appropriate healthcare and rehabilitation, Max will return to full health and will once again be an independent and valuable contributor to society.
Organizer
Max O'Brien
Organizer
San Francisco, CA