OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT UPLIFTING FOR THE STRASCHNITZKI FAMILY
Tom Straschnitzki is convinced there’s only one way to distribute the more than $15 million in online donations earmarked for the Humboldt Broncos and their families.
Evenly.
While Canadians who contributed to the record-setting GoFundMe page have been debating how team officials should allocate the funds, Straschnitzki is the first Broncos family member who has chimed in publicly on the debate.
“With that Humboldt fund, people have asked, ‘How would you split it?” offered the Airdrie resident, whose 19-year-old son, Ryan, was recently transferred to Foothills Hospital where he is paralyzed from the chest down.
“I say, ‘Well, there were 29 people on the bus, divide it by 29 and there you go.’
“Then they say, ‘Well, what about the kids who need extra care?’ But then it gets into a mess.
“Who is to say he needs more care than the other guys with the brain injuries. We don’t know.
“And what about the coach’s kids and his wife? Make it easy,” says Tom.
And make it quick, which was the advice of several lawyers south of the border who’ve dealt with large funds like these before.
The money was transferred to the Humboldt Broncos Memorial Fund last week and an advisory committee will delve into whatever formula they come up with to allocate the money.
The fund was set up by two ladies for the purpose of paying for expenses of the victims’ families. The initial goal of raising $5,000 to help buy coffee, parking and other incidentals was shattered within minutes as people from all over the world donated.
Should a family that lost one of the 16 people in the bus crash three weeks ago receive more or less than someone whose son faces years — if not a lifetime
— of rehab and treatment of various kinds?
Should the severity of injuries, or pain and suffering be factors?
One thing most Canadians agree on, is that it won’t be an easy decision.
Unless, of course, they take Straschnitzki’s sage advice.
His family will soon start significant renovations to their Airdrie home to make it wheelchair accessible for when Ryan goes home in July or August.
Tom and his wife Michelle have been too consumed with getting through each day’s challenges to piece together what sort of expenses lie ahead for a teenager who has been told he’ll never walk again.
Even with our universal health care, the financial challenges will undoubtedly be daunting, especially considering Michelle was laid off from an energy company in November and Tom was laid off by an oil and gas firm one week before the April 6 bus crash.
Yes, there will also be insurance money and various other disbursements from the ongoing number of fundraisers still being planned and executed.
We should all be proud they’ve been buoyed by endless support from Canadians from the very first day, including people in Saskatoon who delivered them food in the intensive care unit every night.
Cab drivers there wouldn’t accept payment, nor would restaurant owners once they found out what their patrons were going through.
Tom said one of the most heartwarming moments came early on when they were approached by an older couple in the hospital cafeteria as the Straschnitzkis and their three younger children bought dinner.
“They said, ‘Are you No. 10’s family?” said Tom.
“She handed me a gift card and the note said, ‘This is all we could scrape together, but hope it can get you at least one meal.’ It was for $53.
“And then they were gone. I looked for them because they need the money more than we do, but they were nowhere to be seen.”
It’s hardly surprising several Airdie homebuilders have offered to do the renovations needed.
The Straschnitzki’s neighbours are providing home-cooked meals every night for the family and driving Ryan’s siblings to their swim lessons and other sports while mom and dad are bedside with Ryan.
So much so that six-year-old Connor says he wants to move in with the neighbours, “because they’re more fun.”
Laughs play an important role in the family’s healing as well.
The room in the spine unit in which Ryan lies is overflowing with jerseys, snacks, cards and other gifts from the long list of visitors he’s had since being transferred to Calgary earlier this week.
Bret Hart dropped by, as did Mark Giordano, Brad Treliving, Brian Burke and his favourite defenceman, TJ Brodie, on Wednesday.
Having previously been visited by Justin Trudeau, Sheldon Kennedy, Jonathan Toews, Glen Gulutzan, Todd McLellan, Hayley Wickenheiser, Paul Brandt and a litany of other celebrities, Ryan’s too smart to answer which one was the most impressive.
“Everyone has been incredible,” said Ryan, holding an X-Box controller in his hand, courtesy of Best Buy, which also threw in a new TV monitor.
“It’s a mess. There’s no more room anywhere with all the jerseys and stuff. Amazing.”
While his parents were at a charity “Hot Stove for Humboldt” downtown Calgary Wednesday, Ryan interrupted their evening with emotional news via phone.
He moved his toes.
“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself and put thoughts in my head,” Ryan said Thursday morning, one day after telling the media his goal is to prove doctors wrong who said he’ll never walk again.
“I’ll take it as a positive for now.”
Progress of any sort is important for everyone involved, including Canadians who cling to every piece of positive news possible surrounding a tragedy that has done more to unite this nation than any other event this era.
You certainly can’t put a price on the warmth and love afforded the Straschnitzki family.
But that won’t stop the advisory committee from trying, as the country looks on.