Waiting on Disability, need help with expenses.

Hit & Run while walking dog! Now unable to work ~ May be Permanently disabled & has no means of income.

On Friday evening September 29th, we received a very disjointed call from our son that he had been hit by a car, he was in ICU and had already undergone Emergency Surgery. Our son, Scott Epley had been a victim of a hit and run, while walking his dog.

On Saturday, September 30th, we were told by the doctors that it was amazing he survived the emergency surgery.

They continued by telling us;

His heart is only working at 15 %.

His kidneys are not functioning.

His lungs are not working well so he is not getting enough oxygen to his brain or any of his organs. “

And it continued;

He had two cardiac arrests in the ambulance.

He will need several more surgeries, but we will have to wait for his heart to stabilize.

He is at a very high risk for infection for many reasons, and the risk was intensified because he had no spleen (football injury in Junior High).

If he gets an infection, he will lose the leg.

He will need 24 hour Dialysis because his kidneys have shut down.

And lastly;

We will do our best to save his leg and to keep him alive, but all of this is contingent on his heart which is barely functioning and he is listed as a DNR.”

Not a bright diagnosis! The staff in the ICU at Sacred Heart treated us very kindly and we have no doubt that this was due to the fact that the outlook was so grim. One of his nurses looked sadly at us and said, “Your son is very sick”.

The type of injury that Scott is suffering from is called “Acute Compartment Syndrome.” This injury is very rare, nasty and very painful. The trauma to his leg caused extreme swelling, and internal bleeding which caused arteries, veins and muscles to be crushed. The loss of blood flow and lack of oxygen-rich blood caused the muscles to begin dying in the damaged areas. The surgeries to follow were required to remove these dying muscles.

Scott was unable to get help for several hours after having been hit by the car, which caused this injury to be nearly FATAL.

Every surgery became more frightening than the previous ones. Our faith in God’s Divine Mercy and the prayers of our church community, our friends and those that could see the desperation of our family carried us through this dark night.

After 36 days in the hospital; 12 days in ICU; 3 days in PCU and the remaining in the Orthopedic Ward, multiple surgeries on the leg and hip (5 total) , Scott was finally able to go home. with family home health care, scheduled Dialysis's three times a week and many, many follow up appointments.

On Thanksgiving Day Scott was finally able to be reunited with his dog, who had been taken care of by his Grandfather and Aunt

Scott has not worked since September 28th, and the recovery time for this type of injury is very lengthy and extensive. He was a lawn/tree maintenance worker with a small company which had no short-term or long term disability, and of course no insurance.

He no longer has a job, nor any means of income. We are asking for help to get through the next few months, and to help cover the non-medical expenses of the last two months. Wayne & I have been able to keep up with the bills and utilities so far, but things are getting rather tight. Scott is working on applying for disability, which, if approved, may take several months before receiving any assistance.

In just a moment, an accident, and his life and the life of our family has changed forever. This type of cross has turned some to hate and bitterness, we are in awe of God's Mercy and Grace. We are amazed at the powerful impact that prayer has in our life. We know how easy it is to give God thanks when things are going well. It is during these times of hardship, and desperation, that we truly become aware of God's infinite love and our eyes are opened to see the miracles of our Lord.

We thank God for all of the blessings and ask Him to bless all who have been so kind to us over the last two months and who have offered up prayers for Scott and our family.

It is hard to ask for financial help from others but we know that God’s Grace and love extends to all who believe. Please know that each and every one of you who will or have prayed, helped, assisted in food and time and equipment will remain always in our prayers and gratitude!