Tragedy Strikes The Jarrell Family

***See updates for additional information. We are humbled by the outpouring of love and generosity! We have received word that for every dollar donated to this campaign, an anonymous donor will match the donation up to $75,000.  Please keep sharing to help us reach out goal!!  

Family and Friends of Derrick, Kristine, Seth, and Jake,

 

Three weeks ago, the unimaginable happened. I still sometimes slip into denial of today’s reality for Derrick, Kristine, and the boys. It’s surreal and difficult to accept, but here we are. For some of you, this will be the first time you’ve heard this news, and for others, you are like me, worried sick and waiting every day for news, updates, progress, anything. There is no easy way to tell you, so here it goes: Derrick was in a serious accident while on his annual boys’ trip to Baja, Mexico. He has suffered a complete spinal cord injury, and he is currently paralyzed from the traumatic injuries.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’ll introduce myself. Kristine and I are like peanut butter and jelly -We just go together! I will do anything and everything I can to help her and her family. I never imagined it would be this. But again, here we are. Our story as friends began over 30 years ago. Of course, Kristine and I were together on that cold night in Coupeville when she first met Derrick. Just as our friendship has grown over the years so did theirs. I can confidently say Derrick was relentless in the pursuit of his Bride. They’ve been married for over twenty years, have two children, and made Whidbey Island their forever home. With their commitment to each other, raising the boys, and their entrepreneurial spirits, they made a wonderful life together. And, for over two decades, they have each successfully run their own businesses in this quaint little oceanside town.

As a family they have a love of adventure, camping, boating, downhill biking, and dirt bike riding. Three weeks ago, Derrick embarked on what was to be a month-long dirt bike ride with his buddies. On the very first day, tragedy struck. They were riding the famous blazed trail that parallel’s the freeway when Derrick hit a low concrete barrier that had been covered with sand. He remembers clearing the barrier with his front wheel at the last second, but he was unable to get completely over and struck it with his back tire. He flew over the handlebars, landing on his head and shoulder and then cartwheeling hard onto his back. In true Derrick form, he is alive, and we are most grateful he was wearing his helmet, which prevented traumatic brain injury. However, he has endured multiple injuries that include not only many broken bones, but more significantly, a complete spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the sternum down. By the grace of God, his friends were able to painstakingly transport him to the US border and have him flown via Life-flight to a San Diego trauma center.

He is now recovering from a successful surgery to stabilize his spine from T2-T6. The neurosurgeons have confirmed this kind of spinal injury is the most severe, and there is no current treatment to repair the spine and recover mobility. While he has retained his upper body’s ability to move, he’s also recuperating from multiple fractures (collar bone, arm, hand, and several ribs). Thankfully, his mind and spirit remain strong, and he is mentally prepared for the difficult road of recovery ahead.

This week he is being transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO where he will remain for approximately 2 months for acute inpatient rehabilitation. Kristine will be traveling back and forth from Washington to Colorado to assist him with his recovery and to learn the skills she needs to care for him long-term. This directly impacts the time she will be able to devote to her practice, Hearing Health Services, which will now be their only source of income. She has already begun the process of hiring additional staff to maintain the health of her business in her absence and is making the preliminary modifications to their home, but this comes at a cost.

As you can imagine, The Jarrell’s are in shock and still processing this tragic event. They are taking each day as it comes. The impact of this on their future is unfathomable. However, the reality of the financial impact this will have on their lives is already daunting. Medical bills will soon pour in from his stay in San Diego and then from Craig in Colorado. Insurance will only cover a limited stay for rehabilitation, not the 2+ months he will need, and not in full. Their out-of-pocket responsibility just to get him into Craig was over $100,000. There will be additional Medi-flights, potential surgeries, continued rehabilitation, remodeling of their home, wheelchairs, travel expenses…..the list goes on.

For most of us, the helplessness of the situation is heartbreaking. It’s honestly surreal. What can we do to help? How do we keep Kristine and her business healthy so they can continue their lives with some semblance of stability? What can we do to help them adjust to life and the realities for Derrick of being a paraplegic? How will they recover from this physically, emotionally, and financially? There are so many uncertainties, so many critical decisions to be made, and so much to be done it is overwhelming. However, they are a strong family and will continue to stay positive and be thankful for his life.

The good news is, WE CAN HELP!! I am humbly asking, with a hopeful heart, that you consider donating to this fund. Every dollar helps with their recovery. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and/or Lisa Sanchez. We will keep you apprised of his progress with updates and pictures. We know these are uncertain times for everyone. The world is changed with Covid and the world is full of unrest. If you are not able to donate, please keep the Jarrell’s in your thoughts and prayers. The power of positive thinking and the magnitude of your prayers for recovery are powerful indeed.

 

With Love and Gratitude,

Michelle Arbini