Yurik Resetnikov has committed his life to helping others — whether that be through his career as a firefighter and EMT with the Hawaii County Fire Department, or as a coach with Kai Opua Canoe Club.
But now, Resetnikov is in need of a little help from his friends and the community he serves.
On Oct. 12, the 40-year-old Kailua-Kona resident suffered a significant spinal injury while body surfing at Sandy Beach on Oahu, fracturing his sixth and seventh cervical vertebra, according to his brother Kyle Teves.
Currently, Resetnikov is at Queen’s Medical Center in the ICU, paralyzed from the nipple line down. He is awake, but on a ventilator that is helping him breath.
“He is in high spirits and is able to communicate via a letter board,” Teves said. “We are hoping Yurik gets more movement back over time as swelling and bruising hopefully reduce. However, only time will tell.”
Recently, Resetnikov was among the Hawaii County Fire Department personnel honored by the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation for meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty.
He is a father to two young girls, Mehana and Kona, and the husband of Lindsay Resetnikov.
Even without the ability to speak, the accident has done little to drain Resetnikov’s patented strong will and ability to make people smile.
“On Tuesday night, when he started to communicate with the word board he was trying to say something but we were having a very hard time understanding what he was trying to say,” Teves said. “The nurse took over with the word board and he ended up telling the nurse, ‘You can’t hurt steel.’ It amazes me how strong he is at a time like this, and even when he’s hurting, his sarcasm and heart shines through to make everyone around him smile.”
Resetnikov’s stay in the hospital may be over a month long, so a GoFundMe account to help with the financial hardship caused by the accident has been set up. Tay Keaweluahi Soares, a fellow firefighter and good friend of Resetnikov, started the fundraising effort.
“The goal is to take care of the family. They are under a lot of emotional pressure and stress right now. We are hoping to alleviate the financial burden,” Soares said. “Yurik is not the type of person that would ask for this. I actually thought he might be upset with me for starting it but he has been very, very thankful for all the support.”
In less than 24 hours, more than 300 people had donated to “Team Yurik,” raising more than $34,000. There has also been a steady stream of visitors at the hospital to check on the man known affectionately as, “Dancing Bear.”
“Our family is completely overwhelmed with emotion from how our family, friends and community have shown support for Yurik,” Teves said. “From multiple phone calls to people flying over to see him and support him. We have had a minimum of 15 to 20 people a day showing up at Queen’s.”
On top of that, his fellow firefighters have been volunteering to pick up his shifts, hoping that Resetnikov can still get a paycheck and does not need to exhaust his sick leave. That movement, however, still needs to be approved by administration.
“I know Yurik feels the love and prayers from every single person that has supported him,” Teves said. “Lindsay, his wife, is amazed and so appreciative of all the help that is offered, not only for Yurik but for her and their daughters as well. Our family feels very blessed to know we have such valuable people in our lives.”
The link to the GoFundMe account is gofundme.com/teamyurik. Direct donations are also being accepted at the Kailua Fire Station.