A new set of physical and economic challenges now face a Jamestown-born man and his family.
A bicycle accident in Denver left Ben Meyerhoff, 37, a quadriplegic late last year.
Meyerhoff, a former Jamestown Public Schools student, was injured while riding to work at University of Colorado Hospital Monday, Nov. 7. He has a wife, Erin and three children: Adah, 2, Noah, 5, and Caleb, 8.
Meyerhoff, who graduated from Fredonia High School, made it out of intensive care and presently resides at Craig Hospital, where he receives rehabilitation. Meyerhoff, who is also a diabetic, has made some progress, regaining slight use of his right triceps. However, further recovery may not be possible.
"It's a new life for him. Everything now is a challenge," said Paul Meyerhoff, Ben's father. "Because he's diabetic, it makes it a lot more difficult. A diabetic is used to drawing up his own insulin and testing his own blood sugar. It's questionable what he'll be able to do on his own. It makes the healing and everything more problematic. There's no strength."
Doctors classified Ben as a quadriplegic due to his paralysis from the waist down and what his father described as "very limited use of his hands."
Paul hopes his son will one day regain some use of his fingers, left triceps and possibly his lower extremities, but said no one knows what exactly Ben will get back.
He believes stem-cell therapy could provide the answer. However, a lack of FDA approval has caused issues, and insurance will not cover that type of treatment.
"If there's any possibility for him to regain use of any of his lower extremities, he's going to have to have stem cells probably. Any semblance of his former life would require stem cells," Paul said. "These are the person's own cells that have been cultured, but the FDA won't let them use them. They can do that in Panama City."
Without the use of his lower half, Ben, a lifelong Presbyterian, would have to give up his outdoor passion: hiking.
Paul plans to further investigate the stem-cell therapy possibilities offered in Panama. In the meantime, he will focus his efforts on raising funds for Ben and his family, who will have to make economic and lifestyle sacrifices, especially once Ben returns home.
Those who wish to help can send donations to Benjamin Meyerhoff at any M&T Bank location.
"Everything in his life is going to be very expensive," Paul said. "An electric wheelchair is $12,000. He's going to need a van with a lift. He's going to need a lift in his house. Right now, he can barely sit in a chair without a strap holding him in."
