TLC Star Suffers Devastating Scooter Accident
TLC personality Joey Buford is facing the prospect of multiple facial reconstruction surgeries following a “serious scooter” accident, his mother Kelle Mortensen says.
On Oct. 19, Kelle revealed that Joey was in the hospital and “facing a long and challenging road to recovery” following the accident. Joey and Kelle appeared together on the first season of MILF Manor, which followed older women as they dated younger men who were also the sons of the other cast members.
‘MILF Manor’ star is on a liquid diet, will need ‘extensive dental work’
Kelle shared the update on her son’s health in a GoFundMe fundraiser. Although she did not provide details about Joey’s accident, she said that he was hospitalized and that the “tragic event has resulted in significant complications.”
Kelle asked supporters for help as the family navigated “mounting medical bills and the uncertainty of when [Joey] will be able to return to work,” adding that the “support would mean the world to us during this difficult time.”
In an Oct. 21 GoFundMe update, she said that Joey’s breathing tube had been removed and that the bleeding on his brain had stopped. However, he will remain on a liquid died for the next six weeks and will need “extensive dental work and additional facial surgeries.”
On her Instagram Story, Kelle shared a short video of her son from his hospital bed. He had a bandage on his head, a swollen eye, and visible injuries on his face.
“Thank you to everyone that’s writing and donating to me,” Joey said, his voice barely audible. “I appreciate you guys more than you even know. Thank you. I love you.”
Kelle Mortensen is ‘beyond thankful’ for the support she and her son have received
In another video posted on Instagram, Kelle said she was “beyond thankful” for the support she and her son had received. As of Oct. 21, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $34,000 of its $50,000 goal.
While Kelle was hopeful that Joey might be discharged from the hospital this week, she said that was just the beginning of what was likely to be a long healing process.
“To ensure his continued recovery, Joey will require both physical and occupational therapy to regain his strength and independence,” she wrote in her GoFundMe update. “He will not be released until he is well enough to pass these evaluations.”
While the future is uncertain, Kelle said the situation could have been much worse.
“It’s a complete miracle he’s alive,” she said in her video. “I can’t even believe it.”
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