Family holds benefit for Skow

WINFIELD — Through no fault of your own, your entire life can change in an instant and a solid support system and positive attitude can make all the difference.

Brandon Skow, former Winfield-Mt. Union student and Winfield resident, knows this all too well. Thankfully, he has his family and the Winfield community to lean on.

On Sep.8, Skow was in an accident in Mt. Pleasant. He was leaving town, heading east on his motorcycle when a car turned right into him. He was life-flighted to University of Iowa Hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries to stabilize him.

After two and a half weeks in the hospital, ¾ left leg amputation and six other major surgeries, Skow is now home.

While it would be understandable to anyone in his position to have ill will towards the person driving the car that hit him, Skow wants to make it clear he has forgiven the driver and doesn't feel any bad feelings towards the driver and neither does his family.

“We don't want any negativity towards the person who hit him,” said Stephanie Connelly, Skow’s sister. “We don't want to paint her as a bad person either.”

Unfortunately, at the time of the accident, Skow had not yet been at his place of employment long enough to qualify for any short-term disability coverage, so his family is organizing a benefit to help him with medical bills, as well as anything he may need to transition into his new life as an amputee.

The benefit held at Occasions on Oak in Winfield, will be Nov. 18 from 1-7 p.m.

It will feature a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and free-will donation soup supper. There is also a Go-Fund-Me page set up to help with his medical costs.