Anthony Kateridge (AK) is a Longwood High School student.  He just finished his sophomore year.  On June 19th he was a passenger in a motor vehicle and was in a terrible car accident.  He was ejected out of the car and needed to be airlifted to the hospital.  He was listed in critical condition, was in a coma and was intubated.   Brain surgery was attempted, but the surgeons had to wait until Ak was stable enough to complete them.  He had to have multiple surgeries for injuries to his brain and for broken bones.  He had two collapsed lungs, a broken arm, broken wrist, broken jaw bone and facial fractures, a bruised liver and a broken spine at the lumbar level. Ak had spinal fluid build up and had tubes in his chest and his brain to drain and monitor fluid.  He had to have part of his skull removed to decrease pressure on his brain and has to wear a helmet to protect this area and due to a traumatic brain injury.  He was also on a ventilator to help him breathe.  He was in the intensive care unit and was moved out when he was stable, but  had to return there with complications due to his injuries.   He has been in the hospital since this time.    Ak has come out of his coma and all of the tubes have been removed. He is no longer on a ventilator, but as you can see by his "known" injuries that he is a very long road ahead of him.  With an accident of this magnitude and with multiple injuries there are new challenges/injured areas that emerge as he progresses. He is a fighter and is slowly trying to take on the challenges that have been given to him.   Ak is a son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, friend; and to many who have played with him or faced him on the ball field, a tremendous pitcher and ball player. He has a long road ahead of him, as he will need to spend time recovering and fighting his way back to good health and strength.  His family has not left his side.  Ak will need his family now more than ever and will need the support of his family and friends to help him get through the challenges faced before him.  Ak and his family are faced with growing medical expenses, as well as the expenses of Ak needing his family to stay home from work to care for him as he begins he journey towards health. Now is the time for the community, his friends and family to come together and help them in their time of need.  Although he has woken up and is ready to start the fight, the accident was a bad one, and each day must be faced one at a time.  He needs help from the community and his friends/family to continue to pray for him and will need support to help with the tremendous burden this has placed on him and his family.  Please donate to Ak and the Kateridge family to help Ak to a full recovery.  #AKstrong