Support Brandon Causey's Road to Recovery

If you're a community member of the Vail Valley, you are likely friends with, have run into, or in the least heard of Brandon Causey. If you're in the surrounding areas or even in other parts of the world, the same might still apply. Brandon is an incomprehensibly talented chef, previously working in many restaurants for Vail Resorts as well as teaching community cooking classes, and now privately catering for clients, friends, and family around the country. He has been a ski instructor for the Beaver Creek Ski School for decades, leaving his mark on the lives of many families who return year after year just to have the pleasure of learning from him. He is a caring, empathetic, and charismatic individual whose reach has no bounds. He was even recently shouted out by the Vail Health Foundation for rushing a Beaver Creek visitor to Vail Hospital for the imminent delivery of her baby (link to article: https://vailhealthfoundation.org/story/bailey-family-honoring-the-care-team-that-saved-abigails-life/). Brandon has demonstrated an immense power to help those around him, and now he needs our help.

Brandon was recently involved in an accident, which has immeasurably changed the trajectory of his life. On the morning of May 13, 2024, Brandon suited up to ride his dirtbike around the paths of Gypsum - something he greatly enjoys and does quite often. Because he took this particular trip independently, the details of how the accident occurred are still fuzzy. Brandon was found lying unconscious on the road shortly after the accident occurred and was quickly transported to Valley View Hospital. Because the extent of his injuries required a much higher level of care, he was then transported on a Flight for Life to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. There, after extensive efforts to stabilize him enough to investigate further, he was finally able to undergo CT and MRI scans that revealed just how serious his injuries are.

Brandon sustained an atlantooccipital dislocation, meaning he internally decapitated himself. The fact that he is even alive is, in the doctor's words, "an absolute miracle". He also sustained multiple fractures to other vertebrae in his neck and to his ribs, resulting in the partial collapse of the lower parts of both lungs. In addition, he has diffuse but small pockets of bleeding in his brain, meaning this brain injury is traumatic. Brandon has been chemically sedated and paralyzed throughout this process because of just how serious and life-threatening these injuries are. He is undergoing an occipitocervical fusion later today to reconnect his skull to his spinal column, and then will proceed with more imaging and further progression in his care plan to address his other injuries.

These are still the early stages, and he has yet to even wake up, but this is the start of a very long road that will affect not only him but his family, loved ones, and friends for the duration of his life. Getting over this initial jump into stabilization is the first step, but he will eventually require rehabilitation for the foreseeable future. The medical expenses for an emergency such as this are, as you can imagine, astronomical. The Causey family is looking at nearly a million or more in medical costs.

Brandon is an outstanding member of the community who has contributed to the liveliness of this beautiful valley. He is, first and foremost, a son to Bo and recently deceased Sandra Causey, a brother to Jason Causey, a husband to Inga Causey, and a father to Ciera, Olivia, and Grayson Causey. We have started this GoFundMe account to ease the burden on his family. Over the next days, weeks, and months ahead, they will need to be in and out of the hospital, then at countless doctor appointments and rehabilitation. As you can imagine, the normal costs of everyday living, in addition to the medical costs, can be monumental. Your support will enable Brandon's family to concentrate on Brandon's healing and getting stronger.

From the bottom of our hearts, we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and, if possible, give (any amount will help). We thank you for your support, and God bless each and every one of you.