Family, friends raise funds for injured man
courtesy photo
The DuMontier family, front from left, includes: Braeden DuMontier, Colton DuMontier, Christopher DuMontier, Quentin DuMontier and Nadeen DuMontier. Back row, from left: Chris Muffitt, Raelyn DuMontier, Zach DuMontier, Desiree’ DuMontier, Josh Johnson and Ken DuMontier.
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ST. IGNATIUS — A Benefit Indian Taco Feed and Silent Auction will be held at the St. Ignatius Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. to help Christopher DuMontier, 32, who was involved in a life threatening car wreck May 6 while working in North Dakota.
The wreck left Christopher paralyzed from the chest down. He was hospitalized with a feeding tube, two drains in his lungs, a broken collarbone and fractures to his spine; both shoulder blades were broken, and he had serious damage to his small intestine and a lacerated liver and spleen. Christopher was on a ventilator for about four weeks and in intensive care for more than three weeks. He remained at Trinity Hospital in Minot, N.D. until June 26.
On Father’s Day, his three sons: Quentin, 10; Braeden, 7; and Colton, 5, who reside with their mother Eliza in Spokane, were able to visit.
Christopher was later moved to Trinity Rehab where he received speech, physical and occupational therapy.
On July 15 he was released to his parents, Ken and Nadeen DuMontier, to transport him to Providence Medical Center in Missoula.
With no money to pay for emergency transportation, by ambulance or air, Ken and Nadeen inflated an air mattress in the back of their Chevrolet Suburban and brought Christopher to Missoula. With several stops to attend to Christopher’s medical needs, they arrived safely after about 15 hours.
Roughly four weeks later, Christopher was released to his parents’ home.
With donations from True Value in Ronan for supplies of PVC pipe, bolts and hardware, and wood from an old futon frame, Ken was able to make a two-piece ramp that allows Christopher to get his wheelchair high enough so that he can get into the Suburban.
Proceeds and donations from Saturday’s fundraiser will help cover costs associated with medical care, and will help provide for a ramp for his home and a van with a wheelchair lift.
An Indian taco and drink will be $8, and a slice of Gramma Patty’s Pie will sell for $3, or $4.50 for pie a la mode. The fundraiser includes music and 50/50 raffle.
For further donations, an account is set up at Valley Bank under Christopher DuMontier.
Christopher is a 2000 Two Eagle River graduate and a 2011 graduate of Salish Kootenai College’s heavy equipment truck operator program. He is the brother of Raelyn and Desiree’ DuMontier.
Friends and family are also organizing a 5-on-5 basketball tournament benefit to be held at SKC during November.
For more information, call Ken or Nadeen DuMontier at (406) 246-3500.
