Medical and Care Expenses for Paul Andrews

On December 26, 2022, Paul was in a bad motorcycle accident in Austin, TX. While on a highway bridge with no shoulder, a careless truck dropped a sofa onto the roadway from its unsecured truck bed. The cars between Paul and the truck had little room to swerve to avoid hitting the couch on the road. The car directly ahead of Paul hit the barrier and spun into the road, striking Paul. When it came to a stop, Paul was pinned under the car. Thankfully, several people immediately came to his aid and worked together to lift the car off of him. EMS arrived soon on the scene, and STAR Flight soon thereafter. Witnesses helping Paul said that the driver of the white truck carrying the couch had pulled over and had even gotten out of the car to come back to the other vehicles, but that when he saw that there was someone injured, he ran back to his truck and drove off.

Paul suffered: two collapsed lungs and was on a ventilator for two days; a fractured clavicle; 10 fractured ribs along his sternum; two fractures in his pelvis; a shattered/fractured T12 vertebrae that required a spinal fusion surgery; and he is currently paralyzed below the waist.

The best news now is that thanks to Paul being a responsible motorist and wearing his safety gear, he has no brain injuries! We still have Paul. It could have been otherwise. While the initial MRIs did not show any obvious damage to his spinal cord, it was compressed from the trauma to his back. Doctors say sensation or movement may return over the next weeks and months, but so far there has been no change, and no guarantee that will happen.

Paul is an avid motorcyclist and even worked at a motorcycle gear shop for many years, finding a way to make his passion his profession. He recently left this work to be a stay-at-home dad to his new baby girl, Georgie, who was born less than a year ago after many years of Paul and his partner of 20 years, Jackie, trying for a baby.

Paul and his family are at the starting line of a long road of recovery, and we are asking for support from our community to help during this unimaginable time. We hope to help ease the stress of meeting financial burdens to cover hospital, rehab, and PT bills that are coming, as well as supporting Jackie to take unpaid leave while also providing care for their sweet baby. We know times are hard now for many, and there is no amount that is too small or unappreciated. Please give as you are able and know it could not be going to a more wonderful family.

Some anticipated costs are listed below. This may not be a full list of all costs that come up over the next year or so.