Newlywed fighting for his life with wife, family at side after crash

Photo: Becky Chisick

Adrian MacDonald (left) fights for his life at Royal Inland Hospital with his wife Cassy Bluethner (right) and their parents by his side.

A Montreal man is fighting for his life in Kamloops after a car accident in Clearwater. 

On Thursday, July 30, newlyweds Adrian MacDonald, 30, and his wife Cassy Bluethner, 34, were enjoying their cross-Canada road trip along with their two dogs, driving through Clearwater. They were on the road trip instead of a planned honeymoon in Asia, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The couple was on the highway when their camper-van's brakes gave out, causing them to lose control of the vehicle and roll.

Bluethner experienced a concussion and required stitches in her arm and head, but she and the two dogs will heal. 

MacDonald was thrown from the van, resulting in head trauma, a fractured neck, a fractured pelvis, a broken nose and other injuries.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Inland Hospital where he is being cared for in ICU.  Bluethner is in Kamloops as well, and other family members have flown to B.C. to stay by his side.

"At this point he has not woken," explains Bluethner's sister Becky Chisick. "Right now the main focus is the trauma in his brain. His inner-cranial pressure is rising dangerously high and they're having trouble regulating it. He's on a respirator and they are keeping him sedated."

MacDonald remains in critical condition, unconscious and on a respirator.  

There is no telling when he will wake.  

"Their one year anniversary is on August 17. They had a trip to Asia planned for their honeymoon but it was cancelled because of the pandemic," Chisick says.

To make the best out of the cancellation, MacDonald and Bluethner embarked on an impromptu cross-Canada road trip, with plans to stop and visit family along the way.

Photo: Becky Chisick

The newlyweds (pictured) made the best of their honeymoon cancellation and decided to embark on a cross-Canada road trip.

As a result of the accident, Chisick is doing everything in her power to help MacDonald and Bluethner. She started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the couple.

"My sister is on a leave from work to stay by Adrian in Kamloops. MacDonald will not be able to go back to work in the fall," Chisick explains. "Their expenses are going to pile up quickly because neither of them are working. They also have lodging expenses for being away.

"On top of that, there are things that have to be paid for and put out before insurance will even look at anything. After that, they will have to pay for physiotherapy and home care."

Chisick's GoFundMe page was initially aimed to raise $20,000 for MacDonald and Bluethner, but with an unexpected outpour of support, the fund surpassed its goal and at the time of publication had hit $38,562.

"It's incredibly generous of everyone," Chisick continues, "There are funds there right now that will cover their needs and more, but we don't even know what the limit is at this point. It's going to be a very long road ahead."

Chisick and her daughter Lily will fly into Kamloops tomorrow from Winnipeg to meet Bluethner, her mother, and her in-laws to be by MacDonald's side; until then, all the family can do is hope for the best.

You can support Chisick's GoFundMe for Bluethner and MacDonald here.