Hi everyone, John Soos is a longtime friend who has worked with me for the last several years. In fact, John reports to me. He’s a dedicated staff member whose excellent work helps many students, faculty, and other staff with a variety of administrative questions and concerns.
On his drive to work on the morning of December 12, 2024, John was broadsided by a driver who placed her car in automatic mode so she could pick up a pair of glasses she dropped. That one moment of inattention altered John’s life permanently. His car was destroyed, while the driver’s car sustained little or no damage. Rescue workers had to cut John out of the wreckage. He sustained critical injuries to the lower half of his body that has so far required six surgeries to repair and stabilize his legs. Future surgeries on his hips, right leg, and left knee await him as a consequence of the accident.
John was hospitalized for months and then was placed in a rehabilitation center for further care. His rehabilitative care ended, but additional extensive medical care and treatment continues to be necessary.
He is now living with his daughter, Jill, in her home. She tends to his needs when she is home from work, but John is alone much of the day. John is learning to walk again but still depends on a wheelchair and walker to move just a few feet to the bathroom or the kitchen. Physical therapy and occupational health care have resumed, but it will be some months until he can walk on his own and months later until he can drive a car again. John is eager to get back to work but must wait for his doctors to approve his return.
John is facing a substantial number of out-of-pocket expenses and financial losses that need immediate attention:
- Payment of unexpected rehab costs: $2,200
- The last ambulance ride from the rehab to his daughter’s home: $530
- Building a ramp so he can leave his daughter’s home in an emergency: $2,500
- Lost wages after vacation, sick time, and disability benefits were exhausted: $11,000 and counting.
- Medical supplies, durable medical equipment rental, medications, and incidentals: $2,000
- A medically appropriate office chair for future remote work: $300 or more.
There will be additional accident-related expenses not yet known, so we are hoping to raise at least $20,000 to help offset identified and upcoming expenses. On top of this, John’s mortgage on his own house continues to be due along with other house expenses. Though his son, Michael, stays in the house, John himself has not been able to go to his own house since the accident last December.
$20,000 is a big number and might feel daunting, but if we as a community can come together and donate whatever we can, we can help John toward his full healing. John said to me recently that he just wants to rejoin life. Will you donate a few dollars or more as your heart and budget allows? Whether or not you can donate now, would you please share this request with your local communities?
I have had the humbling experience of receiving gifts from people I don’t know and the joy of being able to help others I don’t know. Whether or not you know John, please consider any donation that you can. Thank you for your compassion and generosity as you decide what you can do to help!
