Friends & family rally for Marlboro resident
Ken Majonis, 31, was left a paraplegic after Sept. dirt bike accident
MARLBORO — The Majonis family had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. Carol Majonis said the family is extremely thankful for the support and encouragement that has been received from their friends and family members after her adult son was seriously injured in a dirt bike accident in September.
Ken Majonis, 31, suffered spinal injuries that left him paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the dirt bike accident on Sept. 21 in Tinton Falls. Majonis was flown from the scene of the accident to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, where he underwent surgery to stabilize his shattered T-12 vertebrae. Following the surgery, Majonis was transferred to the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute, West Orange.
"We are just so grateful to our friends and family for the tremendous support," Carol Majonis said.
She said the encouragement the family is receiving is the only thing keeping them going during this difficult time.
When he is released from Kessler, Majonis will return to his childhood home in Marlboro. He grew up in the township with his parents, Carol and Eric Majonis, and sisters, Michelle Shashoua and Andrea Majonis.
Majonis is a 1995 graduate of Marlboro High School and is a member of the IBEW Local 400 electrical union. His mother said the family is in the process of working with Marlboro's building inspector to have their home modified and ready for Ken's homecoming. It is not known when he will return home.
Shashoua said her brother was always strong and said watching his progress at Kessler shows just how strong he is. Just months after his accident, Majonis is able to maneuver his body using his arms and abdominal muscles.
"We see rays of hope from his therapy (progress)," Shashoua said.
With the mounting medical bills not covered by insurance, the Majonis family knew something had to be done. Estimated costs for the first year of paraplegia could cost almost $300,000, according to information provided by the National Transplant Assistance Fund and Catastrophic Injury Program (NTAF).
Carol Majonis said with friends and family members offering to help with the
medical costs, the family looked into the possibility of establishing a fund in their son's name. The Majonis family set up a spinal cord injury fund in honor of Ken through NTAF.
NTAF has been serving the transplant community for 25 years; in 2008 the organization expanded its mission to assist patients with spinal cord injuries. NTAF provides tax deductible options and fiscal accountability to contributors. All contributions are administered by NTAF exclusively for injury-related expenses and contributions are earmarked for Majonis's exclusive use and are available to pay for uninsured medical expenses and to assist with his recovery.
Majonis's medical insurance has a cap of $25,000 for the type of injury he sustained. The average lifetime cost is between $697,163 and $1 million depending upon the severity of the injury, according to NTAF. A fundraiser has been organized to help offset some of the medical bills Majonis will face.
On Dec. 14 from noon to 10 p.m., "Rock Out," a battle of the bands, will be held at 7 Days Bar and Grill, Union Beach. The donation to attend is $25. The cover fee can be paid in cash, check or by credit card and is tax deductible for those paying by check or credit card.
Bands expected to appear include Rope Tree, In Spite Of, Rhyme & Reason, I'll Be John Brown, Anger Management Project and Artikay. There will be raffles and prizes including hockey tickets, tickets to a Broadway show, autographed sports memorabilia, an iPod shuffle and a Fendi watch. All of the prizes have been donated by people who have given time to help, Shashoua said.
She said the network of friends and family members who have helped to organize the fundraiser has been amazing. She said the owner of 7 Days Bar and Grill is a friend of Ken's and offered the restaurant for the event. Another of Ken's friends is in a band and used his contacts to compile a list of bands to play. After setting up a cause page in honor of Ken on the Internet social networking site Facebook, Shashoua said more than 300 people have become members of the cause and have offered assistance.
Proceeds from the day's event will go to cover costs such as hospitalization, rehabilitation, durable medical equipment, home modifications and ongoing therapy.
The constant outpouring of support is one factor that Shashoua feels is responsible for the progress her brother has made so far. Shashoua said Ken's face lights up when he receives visitors, especially his nephews, Jacob, 3, and Ari, 9 months.
More fundraisers are likely to be held in the future, Carol Majonis said.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Ken Majonis fund may do so by sending a check to NTAF, 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120, Radnor, PA 19087. Make checks payable to NTAF Mid- Atlantic Spinal Cord Injury Fund, writing "In Honor of Ken Majonis" in the memo section. Credit card contributions may be made by calling 800-642-8399 or by visiting www.catastrophicfund.org.
Contact Rebecca Morton at marlboro@gmnews.com.
