Benefit to Fundraise for “Miracle” Survivor Dave Hollatz
While working as a carpenter on a job site in Spencer on April 7, Dave Hollatz fell from a significant height after something dislodged from the roof and hit his ladder. An ambulance rushed him to Marshfield, where he had a fractured elbow, sixth right rib fractured, pelvis fracture, and pelvis broken, along with serious lumbar injuries.
Surgery on his elbow was successful, but Hollatz aspirated during pre-op for pelvis surgery. Ending up in the Intensive Care Unit with sepsis infection, lung infection, kidney failure (resulting in dialysis), and multiple organ failure, he wasn’t expected to survive.
“The doctors called him a miracle,” said Hollatz’s daughter, Angie Kann. “No one thought he’d make it through. But here he is walking, talking, his memory is back, he’s eating again.”
Instead of succumbing to his injuries, through what his family attributes to the power of prayer, after more than a month in ICU, Hollatz moved to a regular hospital room with hopes of being discharged soon to a rehabilitation facility.
“I always told him when he was in ICU that he has to keep fighting because he has 3 beautiful grand daughters waiting for him: Addasyn (age 10), Kylee (age 3) and Mckenzie (5 months),” said Kann.
Along with Kann’s husband, Kyle, brother, Nathan, and his wife Sheila, and Hollatz’s siblings, the family has been with him through every challenge of the past few months.
Overcoming breathing tubes, organ failure, sepsis in the lungs, a medical-induced coma, and 24-hour/day dialysis to now recovering in a rehab facility is, to borrow Kann’s words, “amazing.” Hollatz is expected to make a full recovery in time, but will not be able to continue in his current line of employment.
In the meantime, his medical bills continue to accumulate at a rapid pace. To help Hollatz and his family, C&M Crossroads’ owner Mauvice (Mo) Murphy, and friend Beth Kraus are co-hosting a fundraiser on June 25.
“My dad has done lot of work for Mo with updating the bar,” said Kann. “With all that my
dad has done for Mo, she wanted to give something back. Beth has known my dad for a while and she has done benefits and events in Rozellville.”
Kann hopes everyone can attend the benefit to help out a good, hard-working, community-oriented man.
“My dad is the nicest person you’d meet,” she said. “He has done a lot for people when it comes to his work. He would work sun up to sun down and if someone would call him asking for his help with something, he would drop what he was doing and go help that person.”
Kann adds that the Stratford resident is touched by the generosity and support of his community.
“When I told my dad about the benefit, he couldn’t believe it. He still doesn’t believe it,” she said. “He keeps saying that ‘he didn’t ask for this’ and I just tell him, ‘There are people out there that care about you and want to help you get better.’”
“A Day for Dave”
Sunday, June 25th
2:00pm-8:00pm
C&M Crossroads (D3295 County Road M, Downtown Rozellville)
Pasta feast, raffles, quilt auction, discount drinks!
All proceeds will help the family with medical bills and expenses.
