Friends for Casey Vock

For those of you who may not have heard, our friend Casey Vock was brazenly shot in Baltimore while driving his car coming home from a weekend hike the morning of May 30. Casey was less than a mile from his apartment but was in the wrong place at the wrong time—11:50 a.m. on a Sunday morning. He survived a bullet that literally entered beneath his left temple and exited under his right eye, missing his brain by two inches and causing him to crash his car while the perpetrators drove off.

So far, the recovery has been uphill as expected but Casey's spirit, his love for people, the outdoors, music, photography, writing and lacrosse has kept him upbeat and hopeful as he overcomes the challenges he currently faces. He will have surgery(ies) to get through as there's damage to his jaw, the bones in his face, his sinuses and eye that need to be corrected. Eating, drinking, brushing teeth—even smiling at the moment—are all tough for him. The injuries will likely leave lasting impacts on his overall vision. His vision is a foundation of his career path.

Casey is a graduate of Syracuse University, SUNY Plattsburgh, Jefferson Community College and Indian River Central High School. He has touched the lives of those of us lucky enough to call him a friend, coworker, family member, or just someone he’s shared space with for a minute or two. Whether it be through his work, his humor, his kindness or the energy he brings to a room, Casey has given us all something for which he needs us to return the favor. We are asking for those who can spare it, to donate to help our friend Casey get through this difficult time.