Hello, my name’s Shania. I’m the daughter of Charlotte Herglund. On March 26th, her husband of six years took his last breath. From childhood sweethearts to lifelong partners, from high school prom dates to raising kids and living life as one. Not only was he a husband, a stepfather, a dad, an uncle, a brother, and a son, but most of all, a friend to many. He was full of humor and love, kindness, and always wanting and trying to help others.
As many know or may not know, he was in a horrible car accident on February 26th. He was ejected from the vehicle and found unconscious. When my mother received the call from the hospital, they said he was in a horrible accident that had left him with almost all his ribs broken, a crushed sternum, and several broken bones in his spine and neck. He was placed on a vent and breathing tube and put in an induced coma to keep him in a state of calm while trying to help him recover. We thought that had to be all… until she received a call saying he wasn’t able to breathe and needed to undergo surgery right away to fix his sternum. We thought that was it, then she received the call they wanted to take him in again the next day for the second surgery to work on his spine and fix what they could to help his chances to recover better. Finally, she thought that was it, no more surgeries to be done, that’s what she was told. Then again, she got another call stating his heart now wasn’t working properly and needed to undergo another immediate surgery to place a pacemaker in order for his heart to stay working and keep him alive. That was placed, and she was told all was well for now… until two days later, she was told he’d never walk again and he was now paralyzed from the waist down. As if it couldn’t get any worse.
Her world was already crushed. They finally took the steps to both be happy: new place, new state, finally around to see my youngest siblings grow, finally in a place in life she deserved, that she earned. Now just to wait for the game of help and healing to get Mike home. The doctors had stated 6 days ago he was slowly progressing. He was taken off the vent and a trach was placed. He had been awake, of course unable to speak, but awake. We were overjoyed for him, for my mother. We thought things were moving in the correct direction but of course with a very long road ahead. Until yesterday, when she got the call he had a stroke and he took a very wrong turn for the worse. The hospital insisted my mother make it to the hospital as soon as possible as they didn’t think he’d make it. She made it there, and a short hour later, he passed. He’s now an angel who leaves many behind: his youngest, 13, with many stepkids, 12, 11, 21, 26, 29, and many young grandkids, his wife, his friends, his mother, his sister. It saddens everyone so deeply.
In this moment of tragedy, she reaches out for a hand in help. She’s currently in Kansas awaiting to have him cremated. My mother’s on SSDI and lives on a limited income. She’s already fought so much of this alone, it feels. I ask now more than ever if anyone at all can help, please do. She’s thousands of miles away with no help, no family other than my 3 younger siblings, in the middle of nowhere awaiting family to pick her and my siblings up and bring them back here to Oregon. But she’s currently struggling with the funds to bring her husband home. No one in these times of things that happen deserves to struggle and worry. So again, friends, family, if anyone can help in the slightest of bits, please, I ask, do so. If you can’t, it’s alright. We’re still grateful and so thankful for everyone who read and took the time to acknowledge this. If you’re unable to help financially, please just a share is all it takes. And again, thank you to everyone in this tragic time in life. Everything donated will directly be deposited into her funds to help her have Mike cremated and brought home.
Organized by Shania Herglund
Burrton, KS