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OLDTOWN – A Go Fund Me account has been established for Kevin Paulus, who was injured May 29 when he fell from scaffolding. The account can be found at: https://www. gofundme.com/f/standwith- kevin-and-tina-intheir- time-of-struggle.
Paulus, 68, is still in a coma following the accident. He was transferred to North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital in Post Falls last Monday, according to his wife Tina.
She said that Kevin was working as an independent subcontractor at the time of the fall. Since he can’t work, she can’t afford the lease on their Ponderay home, which is up in July. She is currently staying with friends in Rathdrum and plans on staying with other friends until she can find a place to live.
Tina said that Kevin had paid workers compensation insurance premiums for his two employees, but the insurance company says he hasn’t paid for himself and her, saying the premiums arrived four days too late.
She said she believes he did pay for the two of them.
In Idaho, employers must buy workers compensation insurance for employees but aren’t required to buy it for themselves.
According to the Go Fund Me post, “The fall left Kevin severely injured causing his carotid artery to crush forcing him to have emergency angioplasty to open the passageway allowing blood flow to return to and from his brain. He had a number of broken bones in his arms including an open fracture of his elbow. Kevin has a tracheostomy tube for breathing and also a feeding tube.”
The post said the Pauluses live on a limited amount of Social Security.
“With Kevin in a coma and not able to work, this creates a desperate situation for Tina,” the post reads.
The Go Fund Me goal is $50,000. There had been $9,699 raised as of Tuesday.
