James West

Wheels for Micki

On May 26, 2019, our family was involved in a 10 vehicle accident during a sudden dust storm in New Mexico. Our son, Micki, was secured in his wheelchair in the midsection of the van. The rear end impact caused the luggage in the rear of the car to launch forward, slamming into Micki’s wheelchair, breaking the back rest and lunging him forward against the restraints. Micki sustained serious internal injuries and had to be extracted from the van. He was transported by ambulance to Mimbres Hospital in Deming, N.M. and later admitted into Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, TN., where it was discovered that he sustained injuries to his kidneys, bladder, and intestines. Treatment was aggressive but Micki was no longer able to urinate independently. To complicate matters, Micki began to have seizures which caused him to be placed into ICU, further slowing down his progress.

After 2 weeks of hospitalization, he was discharged home. Recovery has been slow. Micki has suffered numerous bladder infections and experiences pain daily. Monthly, the foley catheter must be remoed and a new one inserted, which raises the risk of recurring bladder infections. The prognosis for Micki to regain the use of his bladder is poor.

Our son is 43 years old, profoundly retarded and wheelchair bound. He loves road trips, and everyone who knows Micki knows that riding in the van is his passion! Micki is a music lover who also enjoys being read to. He has a deep-dimpled, broad smile that is contagious. He is quiet, loving, and well-loved. But since the accident, we see more tears than smiles.

Micki’s accessible van was a total loss, and his wheelchair sustained a lot of damage. Although we have had it repaired twice, we are still having difficulties with proper functioning.

My husband, Robert, and I are in our 60’s and retired. It has been a shock to realize how this one event dramatically changed our lives. Even after insurance, we now face costly medical bills, long-term medical assistance for bladder care, equipment loss (wheelchair), and vehicle loss. We have come to realize that we cannot do this alone. Therefore, we are humbly reaching out to family, friends, and all those who are willing, to partner with us in obtaining “Wheels for Micki.”

Your donations to Help Hope Live, in Micki’s honor, will assist our family in bearing the financial burden of ongoing medical care, purchasing a handicapped modified van, and a customized wheelchair. Please help us raise Micki’s quality of life, get him back out on the road, and put that warm, deep-dimpled smile back on his face!

Thank you in advance for your prayers and generosity.

Sincerely,
Robert and Pamlyn Grove for James (Micki) West

Family and friends of Mickie Grove are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.

Mickie has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!