Help with Corey's Bills After Hit and Run

Hi, I'm Corey Reed's mom, Danne. On the morning of August 28, I awoke to discover a couple of voicemails left during the night on my phone -- one from a police officer and one from an ER nurse -- informing me that Corey had been struck by a vehicle the night before while riding his bike home from work.

 

Over the next few hours, we learned that Corey had been taken by ambulance to the ER where he underwent multiple examinations and tests on injuries including a severe concussion, a fractured shoulder blade, multiple lacerations, road rash, deep bruising over much of his body, whiplash, and numerous other injuries which are still being assessed and treated (including several cracked and chipped teeth). Further specialist visits and tests are scheduled to determine the extent of injuries to his jaw, knee and ankle.

 

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, but was later stopped and arrested for a DUI and felony hit and run. As a family, we harbor no ill feelings toward the gal who hit him and didn't stop to help. We hope that she'll get the help she needs for whatever she's going through that caused her to put herself (and Corey) in this situation to begin with. In this regard, Corey feels he has "taken one for the team" in that a child or an elder may not have survived the impact. We sincerely hope that knowledge is a wake-up call for her.

 

Corey had just started his dream job as a banquet chef at a beautiful resort on Longboat Key the day before this accident occurred, and is now currently unable to work because of his injuries. The potential loss of this career-making job, which he was so VERY happy to land, is more disheartening to him than anything else he's going through.

 

All things considered, we see it as one of God's own miracles that he survived this incident and that his injuries aren't worse than they are. We're sending big, warm, grateful hugs to the angels in human form who saw the accident happen and DID stop to help Corey, staying with him until the ambulance arrived. Your kindness did NOT go unnoticed and we're forever grateful to you.

We’re also incredibly grateful to the many people that helped Corey through the initial accident and the aftermath thus far - from police officers at both Sarasota PD and Longboat Key PD to EMT’s & paramedics to hospital providers & staff, as well as office staff at both police departments. You’ve all made a scary, stressful situation so much easier to navigate. 

 

Like us, family and friends have expressed dismay over the incredible injustice that Corey is suffering, and will suffer for a long time -- physically, emotionally and financially -- because of this incident that was no fault of his own.

 

Corey was doing his thing, minding his business, trying to build a career doing what he LOVES -- bringing people together to make memories over the shared experience of great food -- a life's work and passion to which he dearly hopes to return as soon as possible.

 

We're diligently working with the hospital and other providers who are diagnosing and treating Corey, trying to get him the care he needs, while also trying to avoid causing him years and years of financial hardship. We're truly grateful for any assistance you can provide in helping Corey with living expenses while he's unable to work.

 

If he could, Corey would happily throw a dinner party for every donor. In lieu of a bowl of his amazing gumbo, please accept our heartfelt appreciation. Any words of encouragement for Corey are also very much appreciated.

 

All our love,

Danne, Craig, and the rest of the Reed Family