Help Joel with his Femur Recovery

Hi! My name is Sarah, aka Joels girlfriend!

if you know Joel, you know he’s literally the most go, go, go guy EVER! You can almost bet that if he’s not coaching CrossFit, he’s working out, Oly lifting, teaching the kids to skateboard or bike, riding his mountain bike or reliving his bmx bike days!

On Saturday 10/23, he decided to go ride at a small indoor bike park an hour and a half away in PA- nothing crazy & hadn’t been there in years!

Little did he realize within the next few hours, life would be throwing him the biggest challenge yet.

He crashed with his bmx bike, not a big outrageous crash but something was wrong. He knew immediately that he broke his leg.

The squad was called. Level 1 trauma coming in.

4 femur breaks. The most pain he’s ever had.

ER Trauma team placed traction in the bay.

The swelling just keeps building, traction is placed- no help.

10/24 morning comes around- first ortho case of the day, which also means it’s the most serious of the day. Straight forward IM nailing, possible fasciotomy but unlikely.

I get a call from the surgeon “he has compartment syndrome- we’re going to try to save the leg”

femoral artery vs femoral shaft.

That table turned quickly into a 4 hour surgery with rod placement, compartment syndrome, fasciotomy & wound vac placement.

ALL IN A HOSPITAL OUT OF STATE.

He is looking at least 10 days in the hospital, at least one additional surgery this mid week, a plastics surgery to repair the fasciotomy and a surgery in the next year to remove the rod. Physical therapy & wound care all while trying to maintain a good mental space.

To say he has a long road ahead is quite the understatement!

Joel works hard and loves to coach, he will miss that so much as he recovers.

I am able to help supplement his income and plan on that- however he is self pay & then travel expenses, everyday life things, we each have our own house.

We have had several people reach out and ask how to financially help, so if you feel it on your heart to lend a hand- it literally means more than you know.