Being caught between a rock and hard place is an old phrase used to describe people facing a dilemma, but those words hardly describe the difficult situation 40-year-old father-of-three Robert Burton of Etna and his wife, Tena Skidgel Burton, are facing.
As I explained in Saturday’s column, Robert, a pipeline mechanic, was injured last January in an after-work automobile accident.
His Jeep rolled down an embankment and he suffered severe facial and head trauma.
His mother-in-law, Carol Small, said that medical personnel told the family “it was one of the most severe head injuries they’ve ever seen.”
One operation removed half his skull; another operation to repair some of his face and stabilize it took eight hours.
The injury to his head and face was so severe his corneas were severed, leaving him blind, and a portion of his skull needed to be removed and rebuilt.
That surgery, implanting “a new skull,” as Carol described it, took place Aug. 3 at Eastern Maine Medial Center in Bangor, “and he looks great,” Carol said.
And although Robert suffered brain damage, “he knows us and we’re grateful that he is alive,” she said.
During the ordeal, Robert was moved from one hospital to another for additional surgery, and eventually to his home state of Arkansas for rehabilitation and the opportunity to be near his parents.
But when that move took place, Carol explained that the family’s insurance ran out and they were forced to return home.
That’s one of those between a rock and hard place dilemmas: The family’s assets make them ineligible for aid, so they’re having to sell what they can to pay their bills.
“Because he worked on a pipeline, he and Tena traveled a lot, in a trailer, to be together,” Carol explained. That trailer is now for sale, back in Arkansas.
Robert has a new Harley Davidson Street Bob motorcycle “with close to 400 miles on it he will never ride again,” and that’s for sale, too.
In fact, you can see the Harley at the Huge Benefit Fundraiser Yard Sale, Bake Sale, Pig Roast and Auction for the family beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14 and 15, in a field at Carol’s home, 92 Burke Lane in Etna.
Carol has spearheaded fundraisers for others in need, but is doing this one for her own family and receiving help from friends, employees and community members.
Dawn Angel, who works for Rolling Thunder Express, is the mother of a youngster needing an insulin pump who Carol helped.
“Dawn’s been very helpful in spreading the world about this fundraiser,” Carol said.
Employees Lisa Kramer and Tammy Hoyt of Carol’s Guys & Gals Salon in Newport (which will be closed Friday and Saturday to prepare for this event) are working on the fundraiser, and several folks have offered assistance in other ways.
Ted and Rhonda Barnes, owners of The Farmer’s Corner in Troy, “are closing their restaurant for the weekend and coming out here” to offer “hamburgers, foot-long hot dogs, soda and breakfast sandwiches,” Carol said.
Bob Tardy will be the auctioneer for that part of the benefit beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, following the noon pig roast.
Among those expected to provide musical entertainment are Newport-Plymouth Elementary School Principal Randy Gould, disc jockey Darren Brawn and Jim Foltz and his band.
Anyone else who would like to entertain is welcome to give Carol a call.
She also is working on having lumber donated from which picnic tables can be made, used and then put up for auction, and getting anyone she can to participate in the yard sale.
Carol is hoping people will come, set up, sell whatever it is they want, and donate a portion of their proceeds to the family.
“We have some canopy tents, but if you have them, bring them,” she said. “You can bring your own tables and put out what you want.”
Carol does remind participants “to come at your own risk,” because the weekend event is being held in a field.
“It is mowed, and we’ll have plenty of parking and plenty of space,” she said.
Anyone who wants to be part of the fundraiser, make a donation to the family or receive more information can call Carol, Lisa or Tammy at Guys & Gals, 368-5443, or Carol at 269-4301.