Eric Petersen Medical Fund
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My name is Amanda Petersen. My brother Eric Petersen is a firefighter for the city of Akron, Ohio and served as a United States Marine from 2004-2012. He has two children - Faith is 12 and Connor is 3. He also the honorary father of Connor's sister Leah, 8 and an amazing uncle to Elliot, 5.
On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 he fired up his motorcycle and took it out for a spin for the first time in almost 2 years. The weather was sunny and in the 70s, which is rare for March in Northeast Ohio. At 6:05 pm, while riding through the side streets near his home in Euclid, he hit some gravel and lost control of his bike. He was thrown from the bike into a telephone pole. Thanks to fast acting witnesses that called 911, he was transported to Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield and arrived by 6:15. He was non-responsive at the scene and upon his arrival. They intubated him and put him on a ventilator. CTs revealed multiple skull and facial fractures and a broken clavicle. Other than some minor road rash, he had no other major injuries. The most severe injury is the traumatic brain injury, as there is no telling what damage has really been done. He remained unresponsive through the night, to the point that they did not need to sedate him.
At 5:00 am, he began to wake up and started responding to pain. He did not open his eyes or respond to any commands, but he did try to sit up and started moving around. They gave him some medicine to sedate him and some pain medication. A follow up CT showed some minor brain bleeds, nothing that needed surgery. He also had a high fever and they put him on a cooling blanket to control his temperature.
At the moment, all we can do is wait and pray and continue to think positive thoughts. We know he is going to recover, we just aren't sure exactly what recovery means for him. We also know it will be a long road.
A lot of friends have been asking if there is anything they can do to help. The support we have received has been amazing, especially from the city of Akron and the Akron Fire Department. We cannot say thank you enough for all of their support and the donations they have made with their comp time and helping get Eric set up with the benefits he'll need in the future.
We also know his medical insurance will not cover everything he will need and hope to avoid him coming home to a huge bill. If you're able to help him at all, we know he will appreciate it. If you cannot contribute anything financially, please just keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
He is also allowed visitors, so please contact me if you would like to go see him and I can give you the information. All support of any kind is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Amanda Petersen
My name is Amanda Petersen. My brother Eric Petersen is a firefighter for the city of Akron, Ohio and served as a United States Marine from 2004-2012. He has two children - Faith is 12 and Connor is 3. He also the honorary father of Connor's sister Leah, 8 and an amazing uncle to Elliot, 5.
On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 he fired up his motorcycle and took it out for a spin for the first time in almost 2 years. The weather was sunny and in the 70s, which is rare for March in Northeast Ohio. At 6:05 pm, while riding through the side streets near his home in Euclid, he hit some gravel and lost control of his bike. He was thrown from the bike into a telephone pole. Thanks to fast acting witnesses that called 911, he was transported to Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield and arrived by 6:15. He was non-responsive at the scene and upon his arrival. They intubated him and put him on a ventilator. CTs revealed multiple skull and facial fractures and a broken clavicle. Other than some minor road rash, he had no other major injuries. The most severe injury is the traumatic brain injury, as there is no telling what damage has really been done. He remained unresponsive through the night, to the point that they did not need to sedate him.
At 5:00 am, he began to wake up and started responding to pain. He did not open his eyes or respond to any commands, but he did try to sit up and started moving around. They gave him some medicine to sedate him and some pain medication. A follow up CT showed some minor brain bleeds, nothing that needed surgery. He also had a high fever and they put him on a cooling blanket to control his temperature.
At the moment, all we can do is wait and pray and continue to think positive thoughts. We know he is going to recover, we just aren't sure exactly what recovery means for him. We also know it will be a long road.
A lot of friends have been asking if there is anything they can do to help. The support we have received has been amazing, especially from the city of Akron and the Akron Fire Department. We cannot say thank you enough for all of their support and the donations they have made with their comp time and helping get Eric set up with the benefits he'll need in the future.
We also know his medical insurance will not cover everything he will need and hope to avoid him coming home to a huge bill. If you're able to help him at all, we know he will appreciate it. If you cannot contribute anything financially, please just keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
He is also allowed visitors, so please contact me if you would like to go see him and I can give you the information. All support of any kind is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Amanda Petersen
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Petersen
Organizer
Euclid, OH
Eric Petersen
Beneficiary