Tragedy strikes old friends, too

Lord Vaghris Bloodreaver · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject: Tragedy strikes old friends, too

It's not very often that I get off of my soapbox and take off the sarcastic hat I wear to get serious and down to brass tax. Worse, it's taken a tragedy to do so.

A lot of you are old hat's when it comes to this game, and the faces that used to play, and a lot of you know people that go way back. Most will remember Tristadorn, or Punkass Gypsy, better known as Dustin.

It pains me to say that, last night, Sam LaBrasseur, the eldest son of Dustin, and my God-nephew, fell from his second story window. His breath gave out several times before the medics arrived, but thankfully Jeni (the mother) and Dustin were able to bring him back each time with CPR.

MRI's and CAT scan's have shown that he broke his C2 vertebrae, and while he has awoken a few times, and is able to acknowledge pain by squinting his eyes and nodding some, he is otherwise unable to move any of his extremities.

The first part of this message is to say that I likely won't be around for a while, in the tumult of trying to figure out how best to help the brother I never had, possibly taking a trip up there to give what support I can.

The second is a plea for help. The LaBrasseur family is like many a common American one, in which they ply their trade as best they can, but are unable to afford the costs of medical insurance. They make their living by going to various trade events, but with this, the season for them has been cut nearly down to 1/3rd.

I've set up a Paypal account, wired to an open ended banking account that will be given to the LaBrasseur family to use to help attain further treatment for Sam, and food for themselves as they do the best they can to stay afloat in the meantime. Anything and everything donated is greatly appreciated, by both myself and the family.

I realize its asking a lot, but a few dollars to a few pennies adds up quick.

Donate thru Pay-Pal to : Spork.fiend@gmail.com

Contact the LaBrasseur family at : daddytristan@gmail.com

From their family, and from me, thank you, in whichever way you choose to give, be it charity, kind words, or a muttered prayer.

~Matt
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Vaghris M. Bloodreaver
The Clit Commander, undisputed
-Ghost of the Forest-

BulvaiHammersson · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject:

I spent many, many hours hunting in various places with Trist and Maeve. Please forward my deepest sympathies, and I will see what I can scrape together to help out.
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Bulvai Hammerretired

"Loot is Evil."

Lord Vaghris Bloodreaver · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

Update :

I went out to a local bank and set up a formal donations/fundraising account, in which Trist's family will have sole access to.

US Bank
Routing : 123000220
Account : 153660608180

Those whom donate through that means will see the transaction titled "The Freedom of Movement fund".

Anyone needing further information is welcome to email me at the previously listed address (Spork.fiend@gmail.com).
_________________
Vaghris M. Bloodreaver
The Clit Commander, undisputed
-Ghost of the Forest-

Lord Vaghris Bloodreaver · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject:

Update 2 :

As of about an hour ago, I was in contact with Maeve and Trist. Sam is able to feel sensation in his stomach, arms, feet and toes, whenever the doc touch-tested him. Still a long haul, but at least it looks like there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
_________________
Vaghris M. Bloodreaver
The Clit Commander, undisputed
-Ghost of the Forest-

Thugrok · Proud Conservative Pindick Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 134

It pains me to see anything like this happen and often makes me question my faith. Please know I will keep this family in my prayers and will donate what I can when I can. I cant wait to see the update that says he is home and playing ball with his friends at the park.
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Lord Vaghris Bloodreaver · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:39 am Post subject:

Update :

I just got back this evening from spending the last few days up in Seattle with Trist, Maeve, and crew to see about the healing and progress of Sam.

Unfortunately, as a precautionary procedure, they ended up having to put a temporary pacemaker in Sam, because his heart would skip beats on occasional and set off the machines. With that, his body went back into trauma mode, and effectively hit the reset button on his healing, and wasn't able to feel anything as of a few days ago.

Since then, the kid has a fire lit under his ass in regards to healing. Already, he's regained the ability to overbreathe his ventilator, and has been moving his toes, feet, and fingers in his sleep on his own, though is unable to feel sensation whilst awake. For someone so young, its amazing to see such vitality burning bright in him.

Sam is still in a neck/head halo, restricting his movement until his spine and neck fully heal, and because of the nature of the fall, the frailness of a 10 year old's body, and the procedures he's been through lately, his left lung keeps collapsing due to fluid buildup (a natural occurance, which they keep under control, but still). He's doing great, but not out of the woods yet.
_________________
Vaghris M. Bloodreaver
The Clit Commander, undisputed
-Ghost of the Forest-

Fannon Swordmaster · Troll Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 200

Tristadorn, whilest I cannot call a friend, has certainly always been kind to me. I am moved by the story of his son's injury... it reminds me of the frailty of my own children. My family does not have much to give, we are working Americans as well, but I will send what funds I can. Thank you for making that possible.
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My other toons

Leotard · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

Somehow I never noticed this thread.

What's the progress with this kid?