Forrest "Tucker" Smith, needs our help

Hello,

I am Hunter Smith, Forrest's brother. He has requested that I start a "Go Fund Me" page for him:    

Forrest on Thursday, March 12th, was preparing to help his friends at Midtown Tattoos . He posted on Facebook to Adam Loomis  and Austin Peneca  about bringing hand-sanitizer and a fogger to "...keep the coronavirus away from the shop tomorrow..."



Forrest went to Midtown Tattoos  that next day on Friday the 13th, later that night Forrest "Tucker" Smith was almost killed and barely missed being paralyzed with a broken neck.

(Forrest needs our help, like never before)

At some point he was able to get a hold of Mike Hollrah .   Mike instantly knew that Forrest's life was in danger and would then drive Forrest to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. We truly believe that the reason Forrest is alive today is due to the actions Mike took to save his friend's life. He scrambled in the middle of the night to contact anyone that he could, to get the message delivered to Forrest's family.

    (blood had clogged his tear ducts, his eyes were beaten to the point of blistering, under his mustache is where he has 3 fractures of his upper jaw)


(36 hours after the beating, Forrest replies with this picture to his family saying, "Thank you". The bridge of his nose between his eyes was broken off the upper portion of his skull, both eye sockets were also broken off the skull and jaw)     

We are unable to share any of the details of "how it happened", due to the ongoing investigation. What we can say is that Forrest was physically beaten and sustained at least the following injuries: a severe head injury, multiple facial bone fractures, broken eye sockets, eyeball bruises, all of his teeth are "knocked loose",  broken upper jaw,  LeFort I, II and III fractures on right and left sides of face, broken nose bones, broken nasal septum, dislocated lower jaw, broken neck, herniated disc in spine.      Forrest was hospitalized from the morning of Saturday, March 14th through the 18th, where he spent most of his time in the Neurological ICU.  He was discharged on March 18th to allow for the swelling in his face and neck to go down to allow for surgery.  Forrest cared for himself at home with not much more than ice packs until he could have his surgery consultation on Wednesday, March 24th. Then he was admitted to the hospital to prepare him for the 10+ hour facial reconstruction surgery he would have the next day, after having spent nearly 12 days with a severely broken face. (Forrest moments before facial reconstruction, blistering on eyes is still healing) Now that Forrest has had the surgery to reconstruct his face and skull, the worst is far from over. Forrest will likely be "dealing" with his injuries from what happened to him that night for the rest of his life. Anyone who has even just met Forrest "Tucker" Smith can tell how much he cares about everyone around him. He is the kindest, "biggest hearted" person that anyone can imagine.  He is selfless and when we first saw him he was more worried about our family’s grief and concern then his own well-being. He also mentioned his job interview that he had scheduled for Wednesday, March 24th, that he had with the Local #2 Sheet Metal Union in Kansas City.  Instead of interviewing for his dream job, Forrest ended up being admitted to the hospital for surgery. The next day Forrest's face was reconstructed with a dozen plates and around 45 screws, removed three teeth & wired his jaw shut, it was the longest surgery of his doctor's career.

(3D Rendering of Forrest's skull after surgery, each of the white dots are where screws and plates were applied. Bone fragments were removed during surgery.)


(Forrest's first selfie after surgery, sent to his family with the caption, "...You think Under Armor will sponsor me? I have there X on my face...")

This happened to be the day that Forrest was going to interview for a position in the Local #2 Sheet Metal Union in Kansas city, after "acing" the written test. Forrest's life dream was to follow in his father's foot steps and become an "Architectural Sheet-Metal Worker" in the Sheet-Metal Union.  It is pretty much a given that he would have gotten the job and he would have been on his way to achieving his dream, enrolling in health insurance, and many other benefits that come with this career. Additionally, he was looking forward to filling the shoes and continuing the legacy that his father, Larry G. Smith, had started, which was constructing architectural sheet metal projects around Kansas City,  NYC and wherever else work would take him. Forrest is incredibly humble, but he loves to point at something he built and say, "I made that". That dream is on pause for now, but Forrest knows no quit and is extremely tough. He wants to reschedule that interview and chase down that dream, that's why Forrest "Tucker" Smith needs your help! If you know Forrest, just ask yourself what he would be doing for you right now? If this was you picking up the pieces to your life and face?  We know that you just said, everything in his power, because that is the kind of person Forrest is. If you are in Kansas City and do not know Forrest "Tucker" Smith, ask 5 of your friends and I bet at least one knows Forrest. He has never met a soul that he would not extend a helping hand too. Forrest is the first man in any group to offer his coat up, even if he doesn't know you. Forrest just wants everyone to know that there are good people out there and his actions have always been true to that. When does Forrest need these funds?"                     As soon as possible, his first medical bills among others are due in the next two weeks. Forrest is unable to work until cleared by his doctors. What will the donations be used for?:        The funds will be used to pay Forrest's 7 days of Hospitilization, his Neurological ICU Care, 10+ hour Facial Reconstruction Surgery, Medications, Physical Therapy. It will also be used for his future medical expenses due to this horrible incident. He will have follow up visits with neurologists and specialists for his head injury, and potentially need additional surgeries.  He will need to routinely see eye doctors, physical therapy for his broken neck and his eye health. Most importantly, the donations will be used to help Forrest in anyway he needs. It will pay for tools to ease Forrest's discomfort: Specialized cryotherapy mask, ultra sound, E-stim, waterpick to clean his teeth while his jaw is wired shut, pain creams & patches, facial massages and massage tools, the list goes on. Forrest needs all of these things and more. Other ways you can help:

1.) Forrest's teeth were not spared, we will need to find him a skilled team to help with his dental health immediately after the jaw wires are removed.

2.) Donate car parts and mechanical experience and labor This is most important to Forrest, he has a 92' Mazda Miata that he has dreamed of finishing to race alongside his dad in the SCCA. His dream car is a 2014 Nissan GTR Slyline Track Editon.


3.) Vitamix or other High-Powered Blender - Forrest is on a liquid diet for the foreseeable future

4.) Protein powders and smoothie mixes, frozen fruit, liquid diet accessories, blender bottles, etc.

5.) Skin care products, pain relief creams, CBD products for pain relief (Lotions, tinctures, oils etc.)

This is an urgent matter, I cannot stress it enough, that Forrest "Tucker" Smith needs our help. Showing Forrest we care with actions and kind words will help him "heal".  Please wish him the best recovery. It’s going to be extremely tough but we know he can do it with the support of his family and friends.