Rick Pietrowski's funeral expenses
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Marisha Pietrowski and this is my dad, Rick. He died March 19, 2018, nearly two years after an incident that changed our lives.
On April 30, 2016, Rick and I were in Los Angeles as part of his service trip through his employer, Amtrak, when he fell in our hotel room. He had a narrow spinal column and bone spurs, one of which dislodged during the fall, breaking his neck. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital and underwent surgery May 2. He was left with near complete paralysis in his hands and legs and has lost an incredible amount of strength.
We had hoped he would regain some of movement and strength throughout his body through physical therapy. After a monthlong stay at Good Sam and some wrangling over whether Rick would be forced to stay in a Southern California rehabilitation center, Amtrak helped secure an air ambulance transport for Rick and my mom, Kathy, to come home to Toledo, Ohio.
The original goal of this campaign was to raise the $18,900 that the insurance company said we needed to pay for the air ambulance to get Rick home. We received an amazing amount of money from generous supporters in an effort to get him home, and thanks to Amtrak and their work with the insurance company, we were able to save on the air ambulance costs.
With Rick back in Toledo, we tried to adapt to the new normal of his long-term care. Since he was unable to work, and even with insurance coverage, there was extensive costs associated with his care. Although he has passed, these costs still hang over our heads, and we must now work to pay for his funeral services.
That is why we are still asking for help. All of us are so thankful that you thought of us and decided to help. Any donation you can make would help us immensely. If you can’t help financially, we are also very welcoming of support services and information on resources to help us through this difficult time. We would also appreciate if you could spread the word about our campaign. Someone in your social circle may know of someone or something that can help us.
Thank you for reading our appeal and for thinking about our family.
On April 30, 2016, Rick and I were in Los Angeles as part of his service trip through his employer, Amtrak, when he fell in our hotel room. He had a narrow spinal column and bone spurs, one of which dislodged during the fall, breaking his neck. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital and underwent surgery May 2. He was left with near complete paralysis in his hands and legs and has lost an incredible amount of strength.
We had hoped he would regain some of movement and strength throughout his body through physical therapy. After a monthlong stay at Good Sam and some wrangling over whether Rick would be forced to stay in a Southern California rehabilitation center, Amtrak helped secure an air ambulance transport for Rick and my mom, Kathy, to come home to Toledo, Ohio.
The original goal of this campaign was to raise the $18,900 that the insurance company said we needed to pay for the air ambulance to get Rick home. We received an amazing amount of money from generous supporters in an effort to get him home, and thanks to Amtrak and their work with the insurance company, we were able to save on the air ambulance costs.
With Rick back in Toledo, we tried to adapt to the new normal of his long-term care. Since he was unable to work, and even with insurance coverage, there was extensive costs associated with his care. Although he has passed, these costs still hang over our heads, and we must now work to pay for his funeral services.
That is why we are still asking for help. All of us are so thankful that you thought of us and decided to help. Any donation you can make would help us immensely. If you can’t help financially, we are also very welcoming of support services and information on resources to help us through this difficult time. We would also appreciate if you could spread the word about our campaign. Someone in your social circle may know of someone or something that can help us.
Thank you for reading our appeal and for thinking about our family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Marisha Pietrowski
Organizer
Toledo, OH
Kathleen Pietrowski
Beneficiary