Page 6 - The Friday Flyer • September 16, 2016

A-6 THE FRIDAY FLYER SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 Dirt bike outing takes a tragic turn
BY DONNA RITCHIE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
July 30, 2016 would forever change the lives of Brian and Stephanie Floyd, and in more ways than the couple could ever imagine. Before the day was over, Brian would be airlifted to the hospital with serious head trauma. By the end of the day, Brian would be in a medi- cally induced coma and, within weeks, the couple would both be out of work and owe more than $600,000 in medical bills.
Dirt bike riding with his son at Pala Raceway didn’t turn out to be quite the adventure Brian Floyd was expecting. The trip took a turn for the worse when Brian crashed his dirt bike and was knock unconscious, severely injuring his brain. He was airlifted to Palomar Medical Center and put in a medically induced coma. The doctors told Stepha- nie that his prognosis looked grim.
Stephanie says, “He has what’s called Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). It’s one of the more serious brain injuries because instead of the injury occurring in a spe- cific area, it occurs over a more wide- spread area of the brain.”
Brian remained in a coma for three weeks. When he came out of it, he was un- able to communicate or move. “It’s really is a miracle that he woke up,” says Stepha- nie. Brian was transferred out of the Inten- sive Care Unit, and a few days later to the Escondido Rehabilitation Center.
Brian receives three hours a day of in- tensive speech, occupational and physi- cal therapies at the rehabilitation cen- ter. With the help of therapy he’s now able hold basic conversations and walk with assistance. The couple is hopeful that he will be able to go home by the
end of September. Stephanie says, “The goal before going home is to have Brian walking independently 150 feet with a four-prong walking cane.” Brian will continue therapy at home and receive round-the-clock care.
The Floyds have known each other since they were 16 years old. “Like my parents, Brian and I were high school sweethearts,” says Stephanie. The cou- ple married in 2002. They have two sons: Kelly, age 10, and Kasen, age 5.
Brian and Stephanie moved to Can- yon Lake in 1997. “My grandparents moved here in the early 70s, and we used to go their home on Big Range when
were younger,” remembers Stephanie. Stephanie’s grandparents owned ESA Industries, a company that manufacture custom boat docks, marinas and floats. The company built many boat docks in Canyon Lake.
Brian, a union pipefitter, is unable to work due to his accident, and Stephanie, a teacher at Dwight D. Eisenhower El- ementary School in Corona, had to take an indefinite leave of absence so she can care for her husband. A family friend has set up a gofundme account to help the family with their financial burden so they don’t have to endure it alone.
“We have insurance, but we have to
Brian Floyd
is pictured with his wife and sons on a happier oc- casion. Brian was critically injured in
a dirt bike accident on July 30 while riding with his son.
pay five percent of the medical bills. Brian’s medical bills reached $600,000. the first two weeks he was in the hos- pital. We’re expecting his medical bills to reach about one million dollars,” says Stephanie.
Brian and Stephanie are very thankful for the support they’ve received so far. “Brian and I are so appreciative of all the support we received from our family, friends and community. We are so grate- ful for both the financial and emotional support,” says Stephanie.
If you’d like to donate to the Floyd’s medical fund, please visit www.gofund- me.com/2k3n2vg.
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