How to Donate
To contribute to Jake Hanes’
GoFundMe account:
www.gofundme.com/tnwdp8
Jake Hanes, 29, is always one to offer a helping hand. So when a Seattle-area friend asked for assistance in cutting down a tree, Hanes and his family drove up from their Vancouver home to University Place, near Tacoma.
During the cutting of the tree on May 1, it fell and landed on Hanes, crushing both of his legs. Hanes’ wife, Melanie, was nearby, as Jake Hanes had called her to deliver a tool shortly before the accident, and she called for help.
Hanes was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Both legs had to be amputated, one below the knee and one above.
Now it’s Hanes who is receiving help. Jodi Dobbe, one of Hanes’ four older sisters, set up a GoFundMe page, and as of Thursday afternoon, 270-plus people had donated more than $28,000 to Hanes, who grew up in Woodland.
“It’s overwhelmingly humbling,” said Dobbe, who now lives in Phoenix, Ariz. “People who don’t even know him are being so generous and kind. He’s an amazing man, and anyone who knows him knows that, but so many donations are coming in from people who never met him.”
The money will go toward the family’s bills and Hanes’ medical expenses, Dobbe said. Hanes is the sole provider for his wife and their three children, ages 5, 3 and almost 2.
But it’s not just monetary donations that have poured in since the accident. Representatives from Whitlow Construction offered time and employees to put an addition on the Hanes’ home and make it wheelchair-accessible. About 40 people offered to help build the addition. The family has also received an offer for a year’s worth of car insurance.
Hanes, a project manager with construction firm JH Kelly, is still in Seattle with his family. Dobbe said some of Hanes’ co-workers made the trip there to visit, and assured him his job will be there for him once he can return to work.
So far, Hanes has undergone two surgeries. A third was scheduled for Wednesday, but it was pushed back to Friday because he had a fever. Three more will follow. The next surgery is to amputate the right knee, which will help with the prosthesis, Dobbe said, adding that there isn’t a set timetable for Hanes to return home. She hopes he will be transferred to a hospital closer to home within the next two weeks.
Dobbe added that her brother has remained upbeat and positive, even joking around at times. She also said having Melanie there has helped, as she’s been “an amazing support” for Hanes.
Because of the surgeries and medication, Hanes has been a bit groggy, and Dobbe said she doesn’t think he realizes just how many people have reached out to help so far.
“It’s really touching,” she said. “This isn’t going to affect his life for a couple of months. This has changed his life forever, not that he’s not going to have a wonderful life. It’s just going to be a different life, and we’re so grateful for everyone’s love and support so far.”
