#BUTTERMANSTRONG
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Help Mark Butterman Recover from Life-Changing Tragedy
On July 6, 2019, Mark’s life and everyone around him changed forever! While on vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Mark was struck by a truck while crossing the street and suffered a spinal cord injury. From the injuries he sustained, Mark is currently paralyzed from the waist down. The accident was a hit and run. Mark’s family was notified from a stranger who picked up his phone and dialed 911 to report the accident then dialed his daughter’s phone number to let them know that he had been taken by life flight to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia for emergency surgery.
Mark’s family flew and drove to Savannah ,Georgia to be by his side while he was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit. Mark spent three weeks at Memorial Health University Medical Center in excruciating pain while fighting through the initial stages of his recovery.
Mark’s youngest daughter McKenzie was to be married on August 31, 2019 but postponed her wedding date until September 12, 2020 with the hope of giving her dad time to recover and be able to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.
On July 29th, Mark was stable enough to be transported to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia where he would undergo extensive rehabilitation in hopes to regain use of his lower extremities. When he arrived at the Shepherd Center, his recovery was complicated further by blood clots in his leg and lung for which he had to undergo further surgery for chest tube and filter placement to avoid further complications.
Mark has spent the past three months in a back brace healing from his injuries and participating in therapies toward his recovery. He receives three hours of therapy a day which includes occupational, physical and recreational therapies where he is working hard to regain movement in his legs. He continues to make progress towards goals that they have set for him. Mark has an amazing attitude and believes he will walk again.
Mark was discharged from inpatient rehab unit on October 10, 2019 and was accepted into the Day Program at the Shepherd Center starting October 11, 2019 to participate in more intense therapies from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M each day preparing him to return home. He will participate in this therapy for the next 3-6 weeks.
Mark’s wife, Angie has never left his side during this time and is fortunate to have co-workers at Kenton Elementary School cover her duties so that she can focus on learning how to provide the care that Mark needs. They have received encouragement from visitors, phone calls, care packages, and gift cards during this time as well as volunteers who have begun some of the home renovations, mowed their yard, and organized fundraisers to help them out already. They have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from family and friends during this time. Angie keeps friends and family informed through a private Facebook page. Although there are many challenges faced daily, Angie and Mark continue to work through the tough situations and she continues to only post the positive experiences. She continues to try to be strong but realizes that she could not make it through this without the support of her friends and family. She believes everything happens for a reason and something good will come out of this tragedy.
Although the Butterman family is used to being on the giving end to help others, please consider helping them as they work toward their “new normal.” They are enduring significant medical bills and significant costs related to home modifications so that Mark will be able to return home. Their home requires widening doorways to allow for wheelchair clearance, installing wheelchair appropriate flooring and remodeling the bathroom to allow for a zero entry shower (home modifications totaling more than $20,000). The Butterman family is currently needing help to purchase adaptive medical equipment that is not covered by insurance – ramp to enter house ($5000) and SmartDrive power assist wheelchair ($6000). Although they have insurance, it only covers 70% of Durable Medical Equipment to include his wheelchair ($3000) and shower chair ($3000). They appreciate the local fundraisers that have been done to help so far, but further expenses continue to be incurred.
Mark has dedicated his life to helping others, serving in the United States Coast Guard for 8 years and on the Lima Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic for the past 27 years. He is currently out of sick/vacation days and not receiving a paycheck at this time.
Mark needs to focus on getting better and not worry about his job duties and responsibilities. He struggles daily with the reality of not being able to be a firefighter which is all he has known for the past 27 years. He continues to struggle with all of the unknowns with being paralyzed and is determined to be able to go back to work in some capacity to provide for his family.
I am Mark’s sister-in-law and know how hard it is for Mark and Angie to be away from their friends and family but we all know that he is where he needs to be at this time for his rehabilitation. They struggle more when missing family and friend celebrations, such as my husband and grandson’s birthdays, and friend’s weddings. What is even harder is they missed their granddaughter Lila’s 3rd birthday and the birth of their second grandchild Vada Rose on October 16, 2019.
They know the importance of getting Mark the care he needs at this crucial time during his recovery. They are so grateful for having the care and therapies they are receiving at the Shepherd Center. I appreciate your considering in helping Mark and his family get through this tragedy.
Sincerely,
Melannie Hunsicker
The Kenton City School Family is generously supporting the Butterman Family with an #BUTTERMANSTRONG t-shirt fundraiser. If you would also be interested in purchasing a t-shirt contact the Kenton Elementary School secretary at [phone redacted].
On July 6, 2019, Mark’s life and everyone around him changed forever! While on vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Mark was struck by a truck while crossing the street and suffered a spinal cord injury. From the injuries he sustained, Mark is currently paralyzed from the waist down. The accident was a hit and run. Mark’s family was notified from a stranger who picked up his phone and dialed 911 to report the accident then dialed his daughter’s phone number to let them know that he had been taken by life flight to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia for emergency surgery.
Mark’s family flew and drove to Savannah ,Georgia to be by his side while he was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit. Mark spent three weeks at Memorial Health University Medical Center in excruciating pain while fighting through the initial stages of his recovery.
Mark’s youngest daughter McKenzie was to be married on August 31, 2019 but postponed her wedding date until September 12, 2020 with the hope of giving her dad time to recover and be able to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.
On July 29th, Mark was stable enough to be transported to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia where he would undergo extensive rehabilitation in hopes to regain use of his lower extremities. When he arrived at the Shepherd Center, his recovery was complicated further by blood clots in his leg and lung for which he had to undergo further surgery for chest tube and filter placement to avoid further complications.
Mark has spent the past three months in a back brace healing from his injuries and participating in therapies toward his recovery. He receives three hours of therapy a day which includes occupational, physical and recreational therapies where he is working hard to regain movement in his legs. He continues to make progress towards goals that they have set for him. Mark has an amazing attitude and believes he will walk again.
Mark was discharged from inpatient rehab unit on October 10, 2019 and was accepted into the Day Program at the Shepherd Center starting October 11, 2019 to participate in more intense therapies from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M each day preparing him to return home. He will participate in this therapy for the next 3-6 weeks.
Mark’s wife, Angie has never left his side during this time and is fortunate to have co-workers at Kenton Elementary School cover her duties so that she can focus on learning how to provide the care that Mark needs. They have received encouragement from visitors, phone calls, care packages, and gift cards during this time as well as volunteers who have begun some of the home renovations, mowed their yard, and organized fundraisers to help them out already. They have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from family and friends during this time. Angie keeps friends and family informed through a private Facebook page. Although there are many challenges faced daily, Angie and Mark continue to work through the tough situations and she continues to only post the positive experiences. She continues to try to be strong but realizes that she could not make it through this without the support of her friends and family. She believes everything happens for a reason and something good will come out of this tragedy.
Although the Butterman family is used to being on the giving end to help others, please consider helping them as they work toward their “new normal.” They are enduring significant medical bills and significant costs related to home modifications so that Mark will be able to return home. Their home requires widening doorways to allow for wheelchair clearance, installing wheelchair appropriate flooring and remodeling the bathroom to allow for a zero entry shower (home modifications totaling more than $20,000). The Butterman family is currently needing help to purchase adaptive medical equipment that is not covered by insurance – ramp to enter house ($5000) and SmartDrive power assist wheelchair ($6000). Although they have insurance, it only covers 70% of Durable Medical Equipment to include his wheelchair ($3000) and shower chair ($3000). They appreciate the local fundraisers that have been done to help so far, but further expenses continue to be incurred.
Mark has dedicated his life to helping others, serving in the United States Coast Guard for 8 years and on the Lima Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic for the past 27 years. He is currently out of sick/vacation days and not receiving a paycheck at this time.
Mark needs to focus on getting better and not worry about his job duties and responsibilities. He struggles daily with the reality of not being able to be a firefighter which is all he has known for the past 27 years. He continues to struggle with all of the unknowns with being paralyzed and is determined to be able to go back to work in some capacity to provide for his family.
I am Mark’s sister-in-law and know how hard it is for Mark and Angie to be away from their friends and family but we all know that he is where he needs to be at this time for his rehabilitation. They struggle more when missing family and friend celebrations, such as my husband and grandson’s birthdays, and friend’s weddings. What is even harder is they missed their granddaughter Lila’s 3rd birthday and the birth of their second grandchild Vada Rose on October 16, 2019.
They know the importance of getting Mark the care he needs at this crucial time during his recovery. They are so grateful for having the care and therapies they are receiving at the Shepherd Center. I appreciate your considering in helping Mark and his family get through this tragedy.
Sincerely,
Melannie Hunsicker
The Kenton City School Family is generously supporting the Butterman Family with an #BUTTERMANSTRONG t-shirt fundraiser. If you would also be interested in purchasing a t-shirt contact the Kenton Elementary School secretary at [phone redacted].
Organizer and beneficiary
Melannie Hunsicker
Organizer
Belle Center, OH
Mark-Angie Butterman
Beneficiary