Family and Friends Rally To Support Brother Rice Alumnus Blinded in Hunting Accident

OAK LAWN, IL -- Friends and family are rallying to support an Oak Lawn native and Brother Rice alumni who was blinded in a hunting accident. Tom Essig, a member of Brother Rice’s 1985 6A state runner up football team, was accidentally shot in the face while hunting in Nebraska in April. While incredibly lucky to be alive, the accident took away his sense of sight.

Tom graduated from St. Germaine School in 1983 and Brother Rice High School in 1987. His parents, Bill and Joan Essig, were devoted parishioners of St. Germaine and active in the parish. Like Tom, his siblings Mark, Maryellen and Maureen all attended St. Germaine School. Tom is beloved in his hometown of Oak Lawn, and his adopted town of Longmont, CO, where he now resides.

On April 21, 2017, Tom was on his annual hunting trip to Nebraska, when he was shot by a fellow hunter who lost sight of him. Tom took the force of the buckshot in his face, throat and chest. He was treated in the field by first responders and transported to the nearest medical facility. Doctors there quickly realized that Tom’s injuries were beyond the facility’s capabilities, so he was airlifted to a larger hospital in Kearney, NE.

Given the severity of his injuries, he was sent on a life-flight to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center in Denver. Tom’s friends, the first responders, and the talented medical staffs in Kearney and Denver saved Tom’s life. Given the destruction to both his retinas, he lost sight in both his eyes.

No longer able to work or drive, Tom has lost his job. His wife, Amy, of 11 years, works as much as she can while remaining Tom’s sole caregiver. They are also the parents of two beautiful sons, Wyatt, 9, and Colton, 6. They are an incredibly active family. Tom is an avid outdoorsman and Amy is a runner. The kids are in flag football, baseball, and countless other activities. The entire family loves to ski and snowboard together.

Despite being handed a harsh medical prognosis, Tom and Amy remain upbeat and are committed to making the best of things. His family and friends have started a “Vision for Tom” GoFundMe campaign to support the family on Tom’s long road to recovery.

“Tom is as tough as they come, as you would expect from a South Sider from Chicago,” family and friends say. “Those who know our Tom realize that fate picked on the wrong guy. Tom will never, ever, ever give up … Although Tom has lived in Colorado a long time, he has always proudly flown the Blackhawks flag at his house … even in the dark and very lean years.”

Tom’s friends and family are humbly seeking financial donations and have so far raised over $33,000 toward a goal of $100,000. Donations will go toward Tom’s ongoing medical expenses and therapies, technology and devices for the blind, financial support for the family, and a miracle cure.

“My uncle has shown tremendous courage, as has his wife Amy,” Tom’s niece Maggie Essig told Patch. “We’re hoping to get the word out to friends and family of St. Germaine School and Brother Rice."

Learn more about Tom Essig’s courageous journey to recovery on the VISION FOR TOM GoFundMe page.