Family of a plaster motorcyclist is hopeful after devastating accident

Local motorcyclist Brandon Causey has given his family signs of hope in recent days after he was found unconscious on Gypsum Creek Road on Monday.

Causey suffered an atlanto-occipital dislocation, where the spine separates from the base of the skull. After being flown by helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Causey underwent surgery to fusion his skull and spine.

Causey’s daughter, Ciera Causey, said the surgery took longer than expected.

“We were nervous,” she said. “The operation took five and a half hours – they told us three to four – and as we got to the four hour mark we became increasingly nervous that he wasn’t going to come out because one of the risks of this operation is death. But he got through it, which gave us a little bit of hope – he’s still here.”

Since then, Causey has woken up several times after surgery and tried to move, but has expressed excitement about lying in the hospital bed, leading doctors to conclude he needs more time to rest.

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“Because he was so confused and agitated, they increased the sedation so he could rest again,” Ciera Causey said. “We’re just taking it real slow…but it was really nice to see him moving his arms and legs.”

City of Gypsum workers were cleaning up trash in the area when they came across Causey lying unconscious in the Brightwater area of ​​Gypsum Creek Road. Apparently he had ridden his motorcycle south out of the city, a usual trip for the long-time Gypsum resident.

His family said he was found near his motorcycle but otherwise doesn’t know what happened.

“There were no skid marks or rocks on the road, we have no idea,” Ciera Causey said.

Ciera, 24, is the oldest of Causey’s three children. Brandon and his wife Inga moved to Eagle County when Ciera was less than a year old.

Brandon became known throughout the region as a ski instructor and chef. The professions go well together; ski customers often ask about his other profession, which leads to recommendations.

A frequent visitor to the area was Susie Bailey of Texas, whose company hosted ski trips in Bachelor Gulch, overseen by Causey.

“He was just a joy to be with,” Bailey said. “Everyone became friends.”

Years later, Bailey’s husband, Bryan, began hosting similar ski trips with his company and hired Causey. As a special treat for Bailey’s birthday, Causey was tasked with cooking breakfast for the family on the morning of January 31, 2023. When the family dog ​​nearly broke his back jumping in the snow, Bryan left town to find a veterinarian in Denver. He left his wife and son to enjoy the birthday breakfast without him.

Bailey was 32 weeks pregnant at the time and woke up that morning with heavy bleeding, experiencing what she now knows was called placental abruption.

“I knew right away it was a baby emergency,” she said. “I have to go to the hospital immediately, I’m not calling an ambulance, they’re not heading to Bachelor Gulch, I’m getting in the car and driving myself.”

Causey’s breakfast was supposed to be a surprise. His mission was to sneak quietly into the kitchen and have pancakes, fresh fruit, yogurt, and coffee waiting for everyone when they woke up.

Bailey was scared and wondering how much snow she would have to clean off the car before driving herself to the hospital when she noticed Causey’s car in the driveway.

“He was driving fast and calmly,” Bailey said. “He says, ‘I know exactly where to go, all three of my children were born at Vail Health,'” she said. “He knew the man at check-in, he knew the people in the hallway… I knew I was in the right place, I had the right guardian angel, it would work out.”

The baby, Abigail, was born immediately; Only an hour had passed from Bailey waking to giving birth. And that included Causey’s ride from Bachelor Gulch.

Abigail was born 8 weeks early but is doing well now.

“We were very lucky that Brandon was there that morning,” Bailey said. “The timing was so critical and we cannot imagine the outcome if he wasn’t there to get us to Vail Health quickly and safely.”

Causey’s family says the story encapsulates the type of person he is: calm under pressure and recognizing friends wherever he goes. On a normal trip to the grocery store, “we happened to see five to 15 people he knew,” Ciera Causey said. “And he is genuinely friends with them, asking personal questions and checking in on how their lives are going and how their children are doing.”

Her father’s injury showed Ciera how many lives he touched, she said, as hundreds of people reached out directly and through GoFundMe, where the family has received more than 700 donations.

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“Hundreds of people have reached out to me throughout this process expressing their love for him and their support for him and how committed they are to him and the services and services they can offer him during this process “, she said. “It was amazing to see.”

Those interested in following Brandon’s progress can find daily updates on his condition from Ciera at gofundme.com/f/support-brandon-causeys-road-to-recovery