A benefit is set for mid-August for Jason Gutknecht, who is currently in rehab following multiple surgeries. Submitted photo

Jason Gutknecht is known as someone who is always willing to help others, but at the moment he is in need of some help of his own.

Gutknecht works at Cummins as a part of C&W Services. On April 16 he was having chest pain and after going to UPMC and having tests done it was determined that he was in need of a quad-triple-bypass surgery. Gutknecht went to Hamot Hospital in Erie where he had a triple-bypass surgery that took eight hours. Following this he was doing well until his heart rate spiked into the 200s, and he was put into a medically induced coma and had another surgery. His stepmother, Linda Gutknecht and father Jay Gutknecht said during this surgery it was discovered that his heart had been nicked, which is what was causing the build up of pressure.

Gutknecht was in a coma for about a month and had multiple infections throughout that time. While in a coma he also suffered nerve damage, so that when he woke up he could not use his hands, arms or legs. Linda Gutknecht said this is starting to come back now, but that he has also had to have all of his teeth removed because of the infections.

She and Jay Gutknecht have had to travel a lot throughout this time back and forth to Hamot, including three times where they thought Guknecht would not make it. Gutknecht’s sister came down from Maryland to be with them, and Gutknecht woke up the day before she was set to go home. Gutknecht is now in rehab in Andover, Ohio, because that was the place the family could find that would allow for the respirator, dialysis, a trach and all of Gutknecht’s other needs.

A benefit is set for Gutknecht on Aug 18. The benefit will be held at the Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Avenue, from noon to 4 p.m. It will be a spaghetti dinner benefit, put on with the help of Brother’s By Choice, and for a ten dollar donation.

Jay and Linda Gutknecht were told by the specialist that Gutknecht’s rehab would be long term because of the nerve damage, but said that Gutknecht is determined to prove everybody wrong.

“I cannot say enough about the Andover, Ohio, rehab,” Linda Gutknecht said. “Three or four weeks ago he was not able to sit on his own and they had to lift his arms for him. Now he is able to lift his arms and do a lot with his hands. He is standing and they have even had him walking.”

Gutknecht has had to learn everything again, including how to swallow, but is making positive steps such as getting the trach out.

“God is good, and we are seeing the power of prayer,” Linda Guknecht said. “He is determined to be home by the benefit, and we believe he will be. He is determined to beat this. We were told his rehab would be long term, and he has a long way to go but he has come a long way.”

Linda Gutknecht said that six surgeries causes strain on the body, adding that there is a financial strain as well as insurance does not cover all of it and has started to run out. Both Linda and Jay Gutknecht are in their 70s and have been taking on the feat of the benefit, which they began working on while Gutknecht was still in the coma. Gutknecht is determined to be at the benefit in person, they said, even if it is just for a visit.

For the benefit, while Brother’s By Choice, which is a motorcycle group that does a lot of fundraisers for people in need, will be serving and cooking the food along with cleaning up after, the Gutknechts are still looking for donations for food for the benefit. They are planning on a spaghetti dinner with tossed salad and Italian bread. There will also be a bake sale, a 50/50 drawing, which Linda Gutknecht said tickets are already out and around for, and a Chinese auction. Many items have already been donated, including large items such as a bike and helmet, two quilts, and a new guitar and lessons from the Music Conservatory in Warren. The big items may end up being auctioned on their own.

Linda Gutknecht said that they have received many donations from local companies and businesses, and they have also reached out to different sports teams. Another item that has been donated is a Buffalo Sabres autographed hockey stick.

Pedro and the Smooth Cats is the band that will be playing during the benefit. Linda Gutknecht said that she and Jay went to school with one of the band members and that they play music from the 50s through 80s, but also play quiet enough that people can still talk.

All of the funds from the benefit will go towards medical bills. The Gutknechts also have a PayPal set up through Northwest Bank, under the name Jason Medical Fund.

“There’s that saying from an old movie, ‘if you build it, they will come’,” Linda Gutknecht said. “My husband and I are building it, and we hope people will come.”

She added that Gutknecht is very active in political things and is very well known, including people he has met and made friends with that are not from the area, and friends from working at Cummins. A lot of people have been following his story, she said, and that he has gone through so much.

“He has always been the person that is helping everybody, and now we are asking for people to come spend a nice afternoon with us and help him,” Linda Gutknecht said. “It has been very emotional for my husband, because while Jason was in a coma all of the decisions fell on him. It’s been very hard but if you were not a believer before, you would have to be now. God is good all of the time.”

For more information on donations, Linda and Jay Gutknecht can be reached at (814)730-2283 or (814)706-1350, respectively.