I would like to first of all Introduce myself. My name is Shelly and my husbands name is Arild. We have been married for over 10 years and live in Kansas.

I am taking us back to January 31, 2014, a day that was not like any other. One that had changed our lives and took away our dreams, our lives, and everything we had ever hoped for. While at work my husband was electrocuted by a live power line and was blown off of and fell 16 feet to a concrete landing. He suffered life threatning injuries which has left him today liveing the life of a Parapelgic with Brain Damage.

After spending 17 days in a Coma, and nearly 7 months of Bed Sores, Pneumonias, Infection in the bone due to a bed sore, numerous Skin Grafts, Major Back Surgery, still even then more Surgeries, Hospital after Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Rehab Facilities he was finally able to come home. 

He was released with an infection in his cocynx (tailbone) due to a bed sore. Bed ridden for more than 8 weeks here at home. I was giving him antibiotics twice a day everyday through an IV. After the wound vac was removed from his cocynx he began Physical Thereapy and Occupational Therapy againg. They started helping him transfer from bed to chair again. He had lost about 80% of his upper body strength so it was like starting all over again. With bouts of pnuemonia, blockage in the bowels, and so many other symptoms that required around the clock care he was so frustrated and let down by his life's situation that he as Arild would say it "there is no light at the end of the tunnel". 

To this day he spends every day and night in his hospital bed where he sleeps in our living room in our home. He is able to tolerate getting up and being transferred out of bed for medical appointments and sitting in his wheelchair for 4 - 6hours at a time. . The pain in his back is unbearable for him on most given days. The Spinal Cord injury was so severe that he requires total care.

That is where I come into the picture. His wife and his caregiver Shelly. Watching how this once strong, active, determined, full of life man lowered to having everything done for him and never leaving the house is tough to watch let alone stay positive for him. This accident has taken control of  both of our lives and taken our ivelihood away from us. 

During all of this I have been working from motel rooms and finally from home. With the exception of the first 5-6 weeks after the accident when my mind was consumed by what had happened and trying to picture where this is taking us. In July of this year I was faced with my own health has been suffering since the beginning of all of this. I had to try and stay focused on work to keep the money coming in and yet still take care for my husband at the same time from home. Due to my own health and our home situation I ended up giving up my job to stay at home and care for my husband.  At least I knew he could not be left alone so that I could work. The choice was not easy. Arild has not worked for almost two years and now with the decision that I had to make we would be without income. I have learned that government programs offer very very little assistance. Respite care they could give me 2-6 hours a week. SSI he nor we were eligible for, medical assistance I am still waiting to hear on that. I lost Arilds health insurance several months ago simply because when there is no income $534.00/monthly is a lot of money. The initial Social Security disability I applied for him was denied. 

Arild still has many medical needs that are not being taken care because their is no health insurance and no income. There are 4 or more surgeries that we know of in the very near future that just have to be done. Arild is losing sight in his right eye due to the electrocution, still has torn left rotator cuff that may need to be repaired, excess skin hangs over his right eye that needs to be reconstructed, dental because his teeth cracked at the time of the fall, needs an indwelling catheter instead of the foley, that would reduce the urinary tract infections. The accident was almost 22 months ago and their is still critical medical needs to be met. 

He is left to cope daily with depression, no self esteem, being in constant pain in his fingertips, agonizing back and shoulder pain, mentally trying to accept the fact that he will never be able to walk again, write, draw, read, drive, run errands, work, wash his own hair, dress himself, concentrate, , etc. almost all of what we do and take for granted everyday. 

 Any funding we would recieve would go towards paying our debt that we have accumulated here such as rent, utilities, past and present medical expenses and future housing costs, medical and transportation, medical insurance, etc. that would enable us to start over. My plan is to move back up to the area where our families are living. It is a very long 10 hour drive from where we are now. I have no help or assistance with Arild down here and the quality of his life well, the quality of our lives would be so much healthier and stronger surrounded by those we Love and Know. My hope is to go to Nursing School. I was worked in the Nursing field for more than 15 years and always wanted to become an RN. Well now I really have a good reason to do that. We do not have many connections in Kansas and since the accident our whole lives have been turned upside and inside out. We need a place to belong and people we know so that the quality of both of our lives can improve.

Eventhough Arilds daily medical needs and personal cares will not change I still have the expenses of prescription mediciation, general health and personal health care supplies. Since his accident and becoming a parapelgic I have learned that caring for the skin to prevent breakdowns, skin and urine infections, overall general health is dealt with so much differently. 

In all honesty the amount of time that I spend in fearing the unknown, financial responsiblities that we cannot possibly meet, etc. and trying to hold back and act like there is nothing really so wrong that we cant fix it when in reality, This "we cannot fix".

I have to do everything I can do to make this, our lives better. We cannot possibly go on like we have. I wake up in fear everyday of what is going to be taken away from us today or what will we lose today.

I am asking for financial help and support so that we can move forward with our lives. We cannot get past and over this horrible time in our lives unless something changes. I know and still believe that by the Grace of God there is a way to be just content in our lives. I just cant do this alone anymore. If you can help me with any financial support and encouragement I could sure use it right now. 

I will keep you updated with what any support you can give us will do for us. You will be forever appreciated and we will be forever in your debt. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and understanding. Please if you cannot help can you keep Arild & I in your prayers and good thoughts.