Freeland Massage Therapist Severely Injured, Community Rallies for Support

On the afternoon of Nov. 16, Marc Juneau lost control of his Suzuki Burgman 650 on slick pavement while negotiating a curve on Ewing Road on South Whidbey. He struck a telephone pole and a barbed wire fence and became trapped under the motorcycle until a passerby called 911 and stayed with him until emergency crews arrived. Juneau was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of multiple fractures.

Medical staff diagnosed three fractures in his right leg and one in his right arm. He broke the tibia and femur, the two largest bones in the body, along with his ankle and humerus. All 10 fingers and all 10 toes were uninjured, an important detail for Juneau because his hands are essential to his work as a massage therapist. He is in stable condition and was awaiting transfer to a skilled nursing facility, where daily physical and occupational therapy will begin. Recovery timelines are uncertain. Juneau said, "It’s gonna be a long road," and added, "I may not walk until May, April? The thought of that is just beyond me. I’ve never had an injury like this in my life." He also said, "Everything is up in the air and just a big question mark at this point."

Financial pressures have mounted even as Apple Health appears to be covering his medical bills. A friend and client, Hollie Swanson, launched a GoFundMe to help with housing and living expenses while Juneau is unable to work. Shortly before the crash he had just been approved to rent a place for himself and his teenage child, a lease that requires a $2,000 deposit and $1,400 monthly rent, but that arrangement remains unsettled and could change. As of Wednesday morning the fundraiser had raised more than $1,500.

Juneau moved to Whidbey Island in 2022 after traveling the country and opened Whidbey Massage Therapy about a year ago at Dr. Eli Bentabou’s Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic in Freeland. Clients know him as a colorfully dressed local who hands out "Love" stickers and posters. He hopes to recover his motorcycle, a model no longer produced, and photos from the towing company suggest it suffered little damage.

For neighbors who rely on his services the accident removes a familiar practitioner from a small island economy and highlights the fragility of independent small businesses when unexpected injuries strike. To donate search "Support Marc Juneau’s Long Road to Recovery" on the GoFundMe website.