Medical Expenses for Michael Whittier

My name is Marissa Whittier, and I am creating this fundraiser for my Dad, Michael Whittier to help with funds for medical expenses, and medical equipment costs that he will occur from

his accident.

My Dad, was in a horrible motorcycle accident on October 8th.

He sustained severe spine and spinal cord injuries, with the worst affecting his C3 and C4.

The first night at the hospital they did the first spinal surgery, with another on October 13th when they also did a tracheotomy and peg tube. Then the next week on October 19th, another spinal surgery, to further stabilize his spine.

I remember the ICU doctors talking to our family that first night and she told us that there was a slim chance that he would ever be able to breathe on his own again. And that he was paralyzed from his shoulders down. With those 2 sentences, our hearts were shattered.

Well, they must not know my dad. He is the toughest man I know. And if anyone can overcome the odds, it’s him.

Fast forward to today, he is still on the ventilator through his tracheotomy, but he is almost always breathing above, and beyond the machine, along with taking spontaneous deep breaths. And usually every day, respiratory therapy, will unhook the ventilator all together for a couple of

hours when they put in a talking valve so he can talk, which means when he is on that, he is completely BREATHING ON HIS OWN during that time!

He also has gotten movement back in his right bicep, and some in his left arm!!

They didn’t say it was impossible to regain feeling and miracles do happen!!

He was transitioned to a hospital that specializes in trachs on October 24th. Sadly, he has had a few setbacks and is back in the ICU. As for now, he should only be here a couple of days and then he will go back to heal at the specialty hospital. And hopefully wean off the trach.

After that, he will go to a rehab facility before he can go home.

If you know my dad, you’d know he was very active and lived his life to the fullest!

He still worked as much as he could being retired from BNSF as a locomotive engineer for over 30 years and as of November 1st, he planned to go back to work full-time at UPS, where he was currently working part time.

I know so many of his friends have asked if they can help in anyway and it first, there wasn’t a lot you guys could have done besides pray for his recovery.

But there will be a lot of expenses between medical expenses and getting special equipment that he will need when it’s time to come home. Especially so we can try to keep him as active as we can in the community and continuing doing the things he loves to do.

If you can help in anyway, that is greatly appreciated! I know my Dad is not one to ask for help, but I think it’s the best idea given the situation and with his permission, he was okay with me making a fundraiser!

I will try to update on here when I have major updates for everyone.

Right now, we’re just hoping time & rest and he will continue to heal and let swelling go down.

If anybody can push through this and come out stronger, it’s my dad.

Thank you for your shares and any donations. They are greatly appreciated.

UPDATE 11/1/2023

Over the weekend on Saturday night, October 28gh, my Dad ended up coding and needed CPR. So, they took him to Kooteani ER to be checked out. Everything seemed okay and he was stable. They thought that when he needed a suction from his throat/trach, that his nerves were more sensitive due to his spinal cord injury, and that was causing his heart to react if his nerve was hit at all, even slightly during a suction.

After a couple tests & some monitoring they sent him back to his advanced care hospital in Post Falls. Not even 15 minutes after being back, he coded again. And again, was transported back to Kooteani ER. Where they decided to keep him so they could do a bronchoscopy the next morning.

The next day, after his heart rate dropped multiple times, they decided they wanted to put in a pace maker to prevent this from

happening again. He had the lace maker put in on Monday, October 30th.

Today, Wednesday, November 1st, he was transported back to his advanced care hospital to continue his healing!

UPDATE 11/27/2023

My dad is doing SO much better! Thank the lord!

He has currently been off of the ventilator for 4 days straight, including overnight!!!

This afternoon they put a “cap” on his trach and if he does good with this over the next 3 days, then the vent can be gone for good! And possibly the trach, I don’t know if they said they’d take the trach out too, but I would believe so.

My dad will be being moved however, this week sometime. But we’re currently waiting for him to go do an outpatient scan at Kootenai to see if her has kidney stones. Bummer. But it will buy him a little time before leaving. Sadly, the 3 places in the area that accept patients on ventilator support, weren’t very nice. One we haven’t toured yet because they have multiple active Covid cases. But the place in Spokane, we were not impressed by.

so fingers crossed he can stay at NIACH a couple more days and then possibly transition to a rehab facility where they won’t need vent support! That wood open the door to more rehab places he could go to!!

Either way, my Dad has come along way and has already beat the odds he was given. Let’s just pray he can stay off the vent!!!

Love,

The Whittier Family

-Marissa & Ryan Whittier