Our brother, Chris Genz

Several years ago Chris Genz was working in his architectural design/build shop when a shelf full of heavy materials fell on his head, knocking him to the ground, where he also struck the back of his head and lay unconscious for an indeterminate amount of time. As a result, he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury called a "shearing" injury. A diffuse axonal injury is the shearing (tearing) of the brain's long connecting nerve fibers that happens when the brain is injured as it shifts and rotates inside the bony skull. DAI can cause coma and injury to many different parts of the brain. Such an injury may cause cognitive deficits, motor deficits, perceptual and sensory deficits, communication and language deficits, functional deficits, social difficulties, regulatory disturbances, and personality and psychiatric changes. These injuries may be “invisible” but they are no less debilitating. Chris’ Post Concussive Syndrome was most likely complicated by prior undiagnosed head injuries from childhood, a car accident and several other post-concussive episodes directly related to the PCS. He also is undergoing treatment for injuries to his neck and back.

Chris is a creative and brilliant architect, the owner of CGDB (Chris Genz Design Build) who, during the course of his career has designed and built both commercial and residential properties. He also designs and builds outstanding furniture and artistic pieces. Since his accident he has struggled to continue his larger work projects due to the various deficits created by the TBI and his physical injuries.

To add insult to literal injury, last spring and early summer severe storms pounded the Denver area and ripped off parts of the shop’s roofing. The water that subsequently poured in damaged major shop equipment and Chris hasn’t been able to get the roof or the equipment repaired. Once he has achieved more healing, he is hoping to be able to continue making furniture and taking on smaller architectural projects.

I'm Gretchen Genz Davidson. Me and my sisters, Cammie Genz Klaskin, Jennie Genz, and Antoinette Genz Hayden are starting this fundraiser to help Chris with maintaining his basic needs of shelter, food, utilities, insurance and medical care as well as making necessary repairs to his workshop. Both Chris and those close to him have exhausted their available resources and we are asking for help while he waits for disability benefits to be approved and gets connected to other social resources for his long-term needs.

If you feel you can help, we would all be in your debt. No amount is too small. If you know anyone who knows the Genzes and you think they might want to hear about our fundraiser, we would be extremely grateful if you shared this information. If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to contact me. Many many thanks for your consideration!

To see more pictures of Chris' work, visit his CGDB LLC page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=cgdb%20llc