Medical Fundraiser for Paul Hayden

Paul Hayden and his wife Shannon, son Cameron (23), and daughter Maisie (8) were a close and loving family. They were not without their struggles, as Cameron battled mental illness for years – bi-polar disorder, depression, and in hindsight, probable schizophrenia. On November 28, 2022 at 8:04pm, Cameron walked into the family home and opened fire with a high-caliber SKS rifle. Nine rounds were fired. One missed Shannon by inches. Maisie, who was on the other side of a wall brushing her teeth for bed, also narrowly escaped harm. Paul sustained nearly fatal injuries, taking all nine rounds to his lower torso and down to his ankle as he rushed the door. Cameron then took his own life.

Paul spent nine weeks in a trauma center where he coded twice; doctors told the family that he very well may not make it out. With lots of love and prayers, he did make it out of the trauma unit, but he spent the next several weeks in and out of a physical rehabilitation center as well as other hospitals fighting infections. His right sciatic nerve was nearly severed, and he lost 40% of his intestines, colon and abdominal wall. Paul’s hip and part of his pelvis were obliterated and removed. He is unable to stand or walk, and he now has an ileostomy bag.

The Hayden family used to camp, offroad, cook, and travel together. Maisie and Cameron were always outside flying kites, playing in the rain, or walking the dog. If they had to be indoors, they were working on LEGOs or building forts. Paul was in construction by trade and was always willing to help others with his knowledge and physical capabilities. Things look drastically different now. Paul’s day-to-day activities are extremely limited, and he is unable to stand or even get into bed or a car on his own.

With a rebuilt pelvis and a new hip, Paul could very possibly walk again, and may even be able to have his ileostomy reversed. Those who know Paul also know how strong and determined he is! He has already surpassed the expectations of medical personnel, working hard to get as much of his former life back as possible.

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to encourage the Hayden family by financially sharing the burden of these friends and neighbors who have lost so much. We pray and hope for the best possible outcome, which would give Paul, Shannon, and Maisie the gift of a more normal life. All donations are received with gratitude; no amount is too small to make a difference and bring encouragement.

The surgeries are too extensive to be handled locally, so travel will be required. Some items the donations will be specifically used for include, but are not limited to:

Thank you for your generosity!