By Sarah Motter-WIBW TV
GoFundMe on pace to double goal
MANHATTAN- The GoFundMe for an Alma man that was injured while attempting to change a tire on his trailer near Eudora has already reached $10,000 above its goal, less than a day since the page was created.
Mark Eckelberry says on May 28th, Jeff Eckelberry and his wife Joyce were headed to the Grand Canyon when a tire on their camper blew out just outside of Eudora on K-10. While changing the tire, the trailer fell off its jack and landed on Jeff’s head and shoulder area, pinning him underneath. Emergency personnel quickly arrived on the scene and lifted the trailer, pulling Jeff from underneath. He was then taken to rushed to the Overland Park Medical Center Trauma Center.
According to Eckelberry, Jeff’s facial bones were pulverized, he had a small bleed in his brain and a broken arm. The brain bleed was not large enough to require immediate surgical attention. After four days in the Intensive Care Unit, Eckelberry said facial reconstruction surgery was performed on Jeff, which required plates, rods and screws to reconfigure his facial structure.
Eckelberry said Jeff is currently in the ICU, but doctors are hopeful that he can be moved to a standard room soon. He said Jeff still has a long road to recovery ahead.
The family said it would like to thank the members of the Eudora Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol and staff at the Overland Park Medical Center for their lifesaving efforts.
According to Eckelberry, Jeff’s family set up a GoFundMe to raise funds to help cover large medical bills that Jeff and Joyce face, for current treatment and for future therapy and rehabilitation services. The family wants to remove this stress from Jeff and Joyce so that they may focus on Jeff’s recovery.
As of 11 a.m. on June 3, the GoFundMe had already reached $18,310, over $10,000 above the goal of the page that was created on June 2.
For more information or to donate to Jeff and Joyce, click HERE.