On January 25, 2011, Shane Eads’ life was forever changed by an unimaginable tragedy. He was working at a road construction site on I-49 just north of Lafayette, LA. The road crew had closed one lane to make repairs, causing traffic to be diverted to the other open lane and creating delays. A driver became impatient and moved out of his lane, striking a trailer. As result, Shane was pinned between the trailer and a truck parked at the construction site. To make matters worse, the vehicles could not be moved until emergency personnel arrived – his right leg appeared to be severed and to move him would have been fatal.

Shane’s right leg has been amputated just above the knee and his pelvis is crushed, causing internal bleeding and injury to his bladder. To date, appeals have gone out for blood donors and blood mobiles have been set up at various locations. He is scheduled to be transferred some time within the next few days to Tulane in New Orleans where he can receive expert care to begin what will be an extensive round of surgeries and therapy over the coming days and weeks.

Shane Eads is employed by Ranger Offshore, Inc. as a dive supervisor. He was supplementing his income working with this road construction crew during what is normally considered the “slow season” for the commercial diving industry. He is a husband and a father to two boys, ages 4 and 8. Family, friends, and coworkers alike have echoed these sentiments: “He’s the kind of guy that will do anything for you. He’s the kind of guy who will give you the shirt off his back. He’s just a real dude.”

Efforts are currently underway to set up a charity foundation in order to assist Shane and his family with the insurmountable medical expenses and loss of wages resulting from this tragedy. Several people are organizing numerous events and appeals are going out for donations.

Take some time to consider and realize just how quickly a person’s life can be changed - hopes and dreams, desires and goals stripped away in an instant. It can happen to any of us – life is fragile.

We now have a donation account set up at Advancial Credit Union at 306 E. Kaliste Saloom, Lafayette, LA, 70508. Checks should be made out to Ashley Eads, Shane’s wife. For more information you can go to https://www.advancial.org/. Advancial is also partnered with several credit unions. If you have questions or need additional information on how to donate, you may contact Lexi R. LeBlanc at lleblanc@advancial.org directly.

Cash and check donations may also be dropped off at Ranger Offshore, Inc., 805 Hwy. 90 East, New Iberia, LA 70560.

Blood donations are requested at the following locations:

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the Blood Donor Center
Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 5:30 pm; Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Cal Dive in Broussard
Wednesday, February 2nd, again from 10 am to 4pm.

Tulane in New Orleans
After Shane arrives you can also give blood there. Call.

If you're out of state and wanting to donate blood, see the Facebook page for more on that. There's also info on there about how you can send them a few bucks to help. Shane's been down here in the Gulf for better'n a decade. A much loved and respected Brother.
Email them at shaneeadsrecoveryfund@gmail.com

Please take a moment to search your heart. We are not asking for equal giving but equal sacrifice.

Even if you can't give money or blood, please say a prayer and fwd this info so we can get the word out..

Thank you Brandi Painter