TexDiveGuy - Alan Knappenberger Fund

[Debraw]

Our friend/dive buddy and frequent contributor to, Scubatoys, The Deco Stop, Scubaboard, Alan Knappenberger ( AKA TexDiveGuy) was involved in a very serious car accident while on a family vacation with his 3 sons in Wisconsin. Alan was hurt the worst when they hit some black ice and collided with a large SUV. He is in the hospital in Minnesota after being care flighted there from the accident. His home is in Texas and he is a member of the forum Texas Swamp Divers. Alan currently is suffering from a head trauma, broken pelvis, collapsed lung, broken ribs, and multiple lacerations and bruises. One of his three sons has been released with a concussion and the other two are still in the hospital as well, or at least that is the information I have. We are started a fund through PayPal for immediate financial relief for his family. Anything you can contribute $5.00 and up will be much appreciated at this time. Bonnie his wife has flown to Minnesota to be with him and she will be there for at least the next 10 days to two weeks while they get released from the hospital and make their way back home. Bonnie is a registered nurse at Arlington Hospital. Alan's son alreday suffers from health problems before the accident and this small token of our contribution will really go along way with them.



Paypal to debrawelch697@gmail.com and I will pay the PayPal fees so that the Knappenberger family gets 100% of the contributions. Alan used to work for me when I owned a dive shop and he has been a friend for the last few years. He is a generous, kind soul, who would never ask for help, but i knwo he will need it in the coming months. this money will help with the transportation back home and with hotels, food, etc for the family.

[robjoubert]

Debra,

can you please post an occasional update?

Thanks

[Foo2]

This is Debra's latest update on SB

Originally Posted by Debraw

We are up to $705! I have posted in the Causes and Solicitations forum on Scubaboard and also on The Deco Stop. I am going over to Scubatoys forum right now also. Good job everyone!!!

[Foo2]

New update from Debra:

Originally Posted by Debraw

We are at $960 so far...you are all angels......

[Foo2]

Another update:

Originally Posted by Debraw

Great news Frank! We are now up to $1005.

[Debraw]

Sorry I missed this board for the updates. We are now at $1780....

[Foo2]

That's awesome Debra! Thanks for getting it together!

[Foo2]

Latest update on the fund:

Originally Posted by Debraw

We are at $1925 as of today.

[Debraw]

I am going to go ahead and send a check for the accumulated amount so far $2010. My goal was $2000 and I know some of you have sent checks directly to the family. I am assuming his sons are at home and will be checking the mail for them and doing their banking for a while. Thank you to everyone who contributed! I would suggest stopping the contributions to my PayPal account and sending checks directly to the family. I just really wanted to get that initial money to them and Paypal was the best way to go for immediate collection.

[TxHockeyGuy]

Latest Update from Frank (TimeLiner) over on SB:

I don't think he'll be dancing on any tables in the near future but he had a better day yesterday. Here is a recent email from Bonnie.

Hi to all,
Well Alan had a good day today!!! yea God, he was up in the chair when I arrived this morning and had eaten a good breakfast according to his nurse!
Had just finished using his electric shaver and brushing his teeth and did he ever look so much better, like a new person compared to the last 2 days!!
The Docs said that the fluid in his pleural cavity was the source of infection which spread into his bloodstream.
It is draining out via the chest tube and he is continued on the antibiotics in his iv.
He worked a short while with P.T. and O.T during the day and then they moved him to a regular trauma floor late this afternoon.
He wanted to get back into the lounge chair when we arrived so he did well with his walker trying hard to remember that he cannot put weight on his left foot at all due to his pelvic/sacral fractures.
He did eat a little bit of food for supper and is really good about using his breathing exercise devices to expand his lungs and break up any congestion.
What an amazing turn around once they attacked that infection!! We are all so very thankful to the Lord in taking Alan around his healing hands and guiding us to a beacon of cheerful light!!
He is still in the lounger but will probably head back to bed soon, I ran downstairs to eat supper and stopped to send this good news!!
Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers and well wishes, God bless, Bonny and Alan
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