Community Rallying Behind Southington Honor Student Hurt in ATV Crash

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Community members have raised more than $70,000 to help a Southngton High School honor student recover from a paralyzing ATV accident.

The accident was on July 29 while his family was vacationing in Maine. Ryan Catlin, 15, a Southington High School honor student who also plays on the rugby team, suffered a severe spinal injury, according a narrative posted on the The "Ryan Catlin Recovery Fund" page on the YouCaring crowdfunding site.

The narrative reads:

"Due to the severity of Ryan's injuries, he has been told by doctors that he will likely never walk nor use his arms again. Despite this prognosis, Ryan has fought back to regain some movement in his arms, but he is in need of months of intensive in-patient therapy."

The page, created by Lynn Mogielnicki, says his parents Amy and Ken, have health insurance, but are also facing "overwhelming uncovered costs such as travel and lodging to be near Ryan during treatment, the Medivac flight to safely transport him, durable medical equipment including a wheelchair and specialized bathroom equipment, extensive modifications to their home to give Ryan freedom of movement and to make everything accessible to him, and a handicap accessible van. In addition, the rehabilitation facility is out of state which will require his mother Amy to take a leave of absence from her jobs."

As of Friday morning, $70,441 had been raised on a goal of $200,000.

The YouCaring page can be accessed here.

Photo Credit: YouCaring