Support Garrett Wheeler's Road to Recovery

Garrett is a 28-year-old man from Westfield, Massachusetts who recently suffered life-altering injuries to his back and spinal cord in a skiing accident on January 15, 2025. The injuries are significant and, based upon what is currently known, Garrett is facing a lifetime of mobility issues that will require the use of a wheelchair.

Garrett is an active member of the local community and, as many of you already know, he is incredibly kind, deeply loving, compassionate, considerate, and always concerned with the happiness and well-being of those around him. Garrett is an entrepreneur with a small landscaping business and enjoys working out at a variety of local gyms. He’s always on the go, maintaining a very active lifestyle that includes biking, hiking, skiing and many other outdoor activities. He’s passionately served others as a long term volunteer at Whip City Animal Sanctuary.

Garrett is a fighter and has worked tirelessly to adapt to and overcome medical complications due to Down Syndrome and he is committed to fighting just as hard now on this recovery journey that is ahead of him. Many of you know already that, outside of the horrific skiing accident, Garrett has had to endure other unimaginable personal tragedies. Twelve years ago, he lost both of his maternal grandparents, Pat and Danny Cyr, in a boating accident on Hampton Ponds and nine years ago, he lost his big brother Ken DeJordy in a motorcycle accident when a man, who was legally blind and unlicensed, took a left turn in front of him.

While we don’t know exactly where Garrett’s treatment and recovery will take him, we do know that it’s going to be expensive and beyond The Wheeler Family’s capacity to handle financially.

In the short term, we expect deductibles and co-pays, transportation costs, and inevitable arguments with insurance companies. Longer term, Garret will need a wheelchair-accessible van, significant modifications to his home, as well as medications, adaptive equipment and so much more.

Please consider making a donation of any size and keep Garret in your thoughts during his rehabilitation.

Even if you aren't able to donate right now we'd really appreciate you sharing this appeal as widely as possible.