Help Chad Heal After a Serious Accident
I’m putting this together on behalf of my friend Chad and his family, who are going through a tough time right now and could use some support.
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, just two days into a long-awaited two-week visit to his mom’s house in Canfield, Ohio, Chad was in a serious longboarding accident while he was out skating with his son, Jake. He had driven two days from Florida to help his mom around the house and spend time with her, his sister, his wife, and his boys.
While coasting downhill in the neighborhood, Chad “got the wobbles” on his longboard and was thrown from it. Thankfully, Jake was with him and had the awareness and courage to call 911 right away. That call likely changed the outcome, and we’re all so proud of Jake for acting quickly and calmly in such a scary situation.
Chad was transported by ambulance to Mercy Health in Youngstown, Ohio as a trauma alert. His injuries were extensive:
A head injury requiring 6 staples, plus a mild concussion
A 3-way left clavicle shaft fracture
Several fractured ribs
A traumatic pneumothorax (a hole in the lung caused by broken ribs)
Road rash across multiple areas
He spent 20 hours on oxygen as doctors and nurses monitored his lung and vitals, and was finally discharged the following day, once they confirmed the hole had closed. At that point, Chad and his family felt a huge wave of relief and thought rest would be enough for Chad to recover.
He ended up canceling the rest of his family plans and stayed put to heal while awaiting follow-up appointments a week later. Unfortunately, Chad learned on June 12 that surgery is now necessary to repair his clavicle fracture, meaning he can’t return to work for quite some time. For those who know Chad, you know how much pride he takes in his work behind the bar at the beloved Sugarshack Downtown in Bonita Springs, FL. This is a hard pause for someone who never slows down.
The hardest part right now is the financial uncertainty. Chad doesn’t currently have health insurance as his new coverage was scheduled to begin during open enrollment this October. He is a Veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and his family is working closely with the VA to understand what might be covered from the ER visit, hospital stay, follow-ups, and now, surgery. But there’s still a lot unknown, especially when it comes to how long he’ll be out of work.
If you’re able to help, even just a little, it would go a long way in supporting Chad and his family while they focus on his recovery.
Thank you for reading, donating, and sharing, as it means the world right now.
