Jans Journey to Recovery

“A helping hand can be a ray of sunshine in a cloudy world.” -anonymous

Helping each other is a way that we can move forward as a society, world and team. Everyone may need a helping hand sometimes, and you can be the person to provide it. I’m a firm believer that what “goes around.. comes around” and would love to see that come full circle for Jan. She has always put her needs last and never asks for help as she is a power house and is extremely independent. She always finds a way to push forward despite all the challenges that may come her way. At a young age she was forced to learn this amazing quality and stepped into the “mother role” for her siblings when she was just a child herself. She has participated in raising money for fundraisers within her own community, but the one that she holds close to her heart is the annual ‘Bowl For Kids Sake’ where she participates on a league and helps raise money for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin that occurs every May. She has welcomed many in her own home until they were able to get back on their feet so they had a place to rest their head. Jan works as the Head of Maintenance at the Holiday Inn Express and has that place running in ‘tip top’ shape! She also cleans other people’s houses to help make ends-meet as she has a 1 income household at this time. Now Jan desperately needs a helping hand just as she has provided for many. Jan was involved in a horrific UTV accident last Saturday, July 29th while on her way to my children’s birthday party. Her and her significant other, Mike Schreck aka “Shrek”, came up over a hill and met another UTV.. The others involved fortunately did not sustain many injuries but Jan and Mike were not so lucky. Both were air lifted to Mayo hospital in Eau Claire. Jan sustained life threatening injuries that included multiple lacerations on her forehead that proceeded to the back of her head that required over 50 staples and 20 stitches, a TBI (traumatic brain injury), dislocated shoulder and a spinal injury that consisted of a fractured C2 and C7 that thankfully did not make her paralyzed from the neck down. Unfortunately, she did have to be rushed to emergency surgery Sunday July 30th on her spine due to her fracture C7 vertebrae compressing on her spinal cord restricting blood flow that could have left her paralyzed. They placed a cage (rods along spinal column) that serves as a placeholder between the affected vertebrae and screws and rods to help stabilize her C2 fracture in her neck. The recovery is going to be daunting as the providers anticipate a 6 months - 1 year recovery period. Once she is able to take a few steps and be able to gain a decent appetite she will be released to a rehabilitation facility/nursing home for a couple of weeks until she builds up enough strength to be back in the comfort of her home. While at home she will need in-home care for a bit and participate In a ‘swing bed’ for further rehabilitation needs. As a result, she will be out of work and will not have any income flowing in to help pay her mortgage, utilities and car payments along with groceries. I want her to see all the outpouring love that society has to offer and for her efforts in her own community come back full circle as now she is in need of assistance herself. She truly is an amazing individual, friend, mother, grandmother and aunt.

Please find it in your hearts and consider donating anything that you are able to afford and if you are unable to donate you can help by sharing the link or sending some prayers her way. All money that is collected will be given to Jan directly to help cover the costs of her medical expenses and to help pay bills while she recovers. I will post updates throughout her journey of healing and thank you a million times over!

“Extending your hand in a time of need can change the course of someone’s life.” -anonymous

cost breakdown:

Total out of pocket (deductible) : $5,000 annually Jan has reached the 5,000 out of pocket this year 23’. She will also have out of pocket medical expenses for year 24’.

Mortgage 6 months - 1year : $5,100-$10,200

Utilities 6mnth- 1 year: $3,600-$7,200.