Sipsey Snake Bite Victim

My name is Tyler Roach. On September 4th of this year, I was out hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness with my father when I experienced one of every hiker’s worst fears. I felt a sharp pain in my left calf, turned to look, and saw a large Copperhead biting down on my leg. We were in an area with no cell phone coverage, leaving us with no option other than to hike out, a hike I ultimately would not be able to complete.

It would end up taking over twelve agencies and groups of amazing and selfless individuals more than ten hours to get me to safety. Roughly ten hours after being bitten, I would be carried via MedAir to the hospital to receive treatment. I was out of the woods, but the fight was far from over.

After facing allergic reactions to antivenin, extreme dehydration, severe muscle damage, and the threat of kidney failure, I am finally able to start physical therapy five days later. The doctors say that things are looking up, but the road to recovery will be a very long and slowly progressing one, leaving me unsure of when I will be able to return to work with estimates in several months.

It is here that I am asking for help. Not only for the unforeseen medical bills, but with the day-to-day expenses through a lengthy recovery until I am able to return to work and be back on both feet again.