A local family is appealing to the public for help to purchase a motorized wheel chair for an elderly Sudbury man who suffered a bad fall that caused neck and spinal injuries.
The appeal is through the GoFundMe organization, which has a page dedicated to Ron Rubic, known to his friends as “Snooksie”.
Ron Rubic's daughter, Amanda Rubic, has organized the fundraiser. She said her father suffered a bad fall that left him with significant injuries.
"Nearly a year ago, my father suffered a severe fall while attempting to leave the house to attend his granddaughter's — my daughter’s — baseball game,” she said. “Unfortunately, he was unable to make it that day, but he is determined to make amends by attending another game in the future.”
She said the fall caused significant spinal damage that required surgery, but still left Mr. Rubic with life-changing injuries.
"These injuries have caused weakness, loss of sensation, and motor impairments, rendering him unable to walk, sit, stand or even manage his daily needs independently," said Amanda.
Since the fall, she said, Mr. Rubic has been hospitalized for more than a year and has suffered several complications. However, he has been accepted into a rehabilitation program at Toronto's Lyndhurst Rehabilitation Centre, said Amanda.
Part of the rehab program includes the purchase of a special motorized wheelchair required for day-to-day quality of life, Amanda wrote. She said the rehab program has accepted Rubic as of April 21.
"However, we must secure 25 per cent of the cost upfront for a specialized motorized wheelchair, which is approximately $30,000-$40,000, before that date," said the daughter.
"I am hoping to raise enough money to cover this cost for my Dad to have a suitable wheelchair to not only have him more mobile, but to also offset for the pressure wounds that have occurred on his body and prevent autonomic dysreflexia (AD) a life-threatening condition that can occur in someone in his situation.
“I am also hoping this will allow us to bring him out and which I believe will greatly improve his quality of life," Amanda wrote.
She said any donation big or small is helpful and she is hoping that friends and family members will share the news with others.
Len Gillis is a reporter at Sudbury.com.