September 23, 2026, was one of the worst days of my life.

My husband, Larry, and I had left our daughter’s the house around the same time that afternoon.   A short time later, I noticed that his location had not moved, so I drove back to see what was going on.

When I arrived, I realized Larry had been in a serious accident.

Thankfully, I did not have to see him lying on the road. By the time I arrived, he had already been placed inside the ambulance.

Then I was told something no wife ever wants to hear.

There was only a 50 percent chance that Larry was going to survive.                                 That is why September 23 will forever be known in our family as “Coin Toss Day.”

In that moment, it felt like Larry's life was hanging in the balance and all I could do was stay beside him and pray.

Thank God he is still here.

I got into the ambulance with him and started making the necessary phone calls. When we arrived at the hospital, Life Flight was already there waiting to transport Larry for more advanced care.

In a matter of minutes, our normal life had completely changed.

Larry suffered a shattered left femur, a shattered left ankle and surrounding bones, multiple fractures in his left foot, a concussion, a serious head wound requiring 12 staples, and extensive abrasions and bruising.

He spent eight days in the hospital and has already undergone two surgeries.

Doctors repaired his shattered femur shortly after the accident. They also placed an external stabilizer on his leg and foot to keep the damaged bones around his ankle in place. He still needs additional surgery, but doctors have had to wait for the swelling to decrease before they can safely move forward.

Right now, Larry cannot put weight on his injured leg and needs help with almost everything. We have a walker, crutches, and a wheelchair.

Our family has truly come together around him.

Our youngest daughter and her husband have graciously opened their home to us so that we can work together as a family and provide Larry with the help he needs throughout his recovery.

Our oldest daughter is a registered nurse, and having her knowledge, care, and support during all of this has also been such a blessing.

The hardest part for me is seeing Larry be the one who needs help.

That is not who he is used to being.

Larry has always been the person who shows up for everyone else. He is a devoted husband, a loving father, and a loyal friend. If someone needs something, Larry is usually one of the first people there.

Years ago, we saw a family of six being forced out of their home. We did not even know them, but Larry could not stand the thought of those children having nowhere to go. We opened our home to them, and they stayed with us for six months until they were able to get back on their feet.

That is the man I married.

Larry has spent much of his life around the motorcycle community. He previously worked at Chipps Harley Davidson, where he truly loved the people he worked alongside and the customers he had the opportunity to serve. Many of those relationships have continued long after he left the dealership, and the motorcycle community remains an important part of his life.

Today, Larry is self-employed doing handyman work, mechanical work, and yard work.

Larry is also a published author. His book, Gravel Dust, grew out of difficult experiences in his own life. He did not write it to become famous or make money. He wrote it because he wanted other people who have faced difficult times to know that they are not alone.

For anyone who would like to learn more about Larry and the experiences that shaped the man he is today, his book can be found here:

Gravel Dust by Larry W. Mongar on Amazon

Even now, while facing more surgery and a long recovery, Larry is already talking about wanting to help other people once he gets back on his feet.

That tells you everything about him.

But right now, Larry needs people to show up for him.

Larry currently needs around the clock care, so I have also had to step away from my job. My income has been our main source of support, and the financial pressure is becoming very real while we focus on his surgeries and recovery.

Funds raised through HelpVy will help with Larry’s medical and everyday living expenses during the difficult months ahead.

If you are able to donate or share Larry’s story, please know how much it means to our family.

Thank you for helping a man who has spent so much of his life helping others.

Lori Mongar, for Larry ❤️🙏