Aid a Family Struggling After Severe Injury From Lightning

Three years ago, my life changed in an instant when I was struck by lightning while working. The accident left me with severe injuries, and the workers' compensation in Texas only provided temporary relief before leaving me to fend for myself. For the past two years, I've been waiting for disability approval, but in the meantime, I've exhausted all my savings and resources that I had worked so hard to build for my family. I've had to sell my tools and cancel everything just to survive, while my incredible wife works tirelessly to pay the bills. Despite our efforts, we keep falling further behind.

The accident has left me with chronic vertigo, debilitating migraines, hernias in my neck and stomach, binocular function disorder, and severe dizziness. I even tore my meniscus from a fall caused by the dizziness. After years of physical and vestibular therapy, I've hit a wall in my recovery. I can no longer drive or function normally, and the long wait for disability approval continues. For someone who used to work 80+ hours a week, six to seven days a week, this has been a drastic and painful change. Every day, I battle depression and chronic pain, striving to be a good father to my children and a loving husband to my amazing wife.

In addition to these challenges, I suffered a traumatic brain injury, lost much of my hearing, and developed whiplash and a hernia. I'm at high risk of falling due to chronic dizziness and vertigo, which led to tearing my meniscus in one knee. My other knee is plastic, and I have a torn rotator cuff and labrum. I've already had surgery on my other shoulder for the same issues. The whiplash caused me to develop TMJ, and my blown eardrum resulted in tinnitus. My eye muscles were damaged, causing binocular function disorder. Despite over two years of physical and vestibular therapy, I've hit a wall in my recovery. I receive about 30 Botox shots every three months to manage the migraines. My body has been through the wringer, from working 80 to 90 hours a week doing manual labor before the accident to being struck by lightning.

I also have a lot of metal, screws, and plastic holding me together. Between that, the hearing aids, thick glasses, and braces at 31 with two kids, I joke that I'm a real catch. Despite everything, I still feel lucky sometimes.

My wife, who is the stepmom to my children, has stepped up in ways I could never have imagined. She works so hard and is always there for us. We couldn't afford a wedding, but she accepted a courthouse ceremony and no honeymoon, staying by my side to help take care of our family. I'm reaching out for support during this incredibly challenging time so that my children don't have to suffer because of an accident that was beyond my control. I feel blessed to be alive and to still be here for them. Any help you can provide would mean the world to us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.