Jim’s Story

Site created on August 1, 2020

On Tuesday, July 28, Jimmy Wahl was severely injured in a very serious car accident. He was a passenger in the back seat of his friends’ car — on Washington Avenue (going 10 mph — nearly home) when they were rear-ended by a speeding car going 100 mph (according to police).

The car in which Jim was a passenger caught fire with him and his two friends inside. Jim and his friends were wearing seatbelts. Gratefully, heroic witnesses were able to pull Jim + his friends from the burning car. They all survived; however not without significant injuries.

Jim was rushed to the hospital via ambulance and immediately taken into surgery to begin repair to his lacerated diaphragm and other internal injuries. Since he was admitted, he’s had several surgeries, been in/out of an induced coma and on/off a ventilator. 

Some of Jim’s injuries:
Lacerated diaphragm
Internal lacerations
Broken neck
Concussion
Both shoulder blades broken
8 broken ribs
Third-degree burns on his legs; these will require skin grafts
Damaged vertebrae

Please send all your good juju, mojo, prayers or whatever you believe in his way ❤️.


GOFUNDME 
Jimmy has a long road ahead — first in the hospital, then the next phase of his recovery. If you would like to help Jim with his medical expenses, our family has established a GoFundMe account for him:

GoFundMe — Help Sweet Jimmy:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-sweet-jimmy

WELLNESS UPDATES 
Watch this site for updates on Jim’s progress.

VISITORS/CALLS
Currently, he is only allowed one visitor (mom/Phyllis) and brief calls from immediate family.

CARDS
Jim loves to receive cards! Here’s his address at the hospital:

Jim Wahl
HCMC
Room R4-712
Minneapolis, MN 55415

FLOWERS
Some of you you have asked about sending flowers. Thank you. Jim is not allowed to have them in the burn unit right now, possibly later.

THANK YOU ❤️
Thank you for your calls, messages, e-mails, texts and prayers. We share your comments with Jim daily. Your love and kindness is a tremendous comfort.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Donna Bronk

Update by Tracy

Tomorrow is the big day!!  Jimmy gets sprung!  FREEDOM!! (Well, sort of...).

I went to his apartment and got him some changes of clothes, since his were cut off of him when he arrived at the ER the night of the accident. We figured he probably didn't want to leave HCMC in his hospital gown with his buttcheeks hanging out 😂! 

He will be going to our parents' house for at least a few days, maybe longer. He's chomping at the bit to get home, so hopefully it won't be long. So many people have offered to help him once he gets home, and we are so grateful to everyone who has reached out. Jimmy has a LOT of people who love him ❤️.  

My updates may be less often after this, but I'll keep everyone advised as need be.

GO JIMMY GO!!!
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