Hope for Young Hal

A few days ago, young Hal (my best friend Nicole Ziser's little brother, and my son's babysitter) glided along Grand Canyon Lane on his brand new motorized skateboard. He was less than a mile from home. Around the bend and cloaked in darkness, a 12-wheel flatbed trailer was parked inside the bike lane, with no vehicle attached. It was completely camouflage, and Hal never saw it coming. His slender body slammed into  thousands of pounds of tempered steel, the point of impact severing his tibia, causing his upper body to whip, face-forward into the hard wood panels and steel framing.


Outside a nearby apartment complex, a small girl heard Hal screaming for help and rushed to find her mother. At first sight, the woman assumed the he’d been hit by a speeding car - his phone thrown several feet one way, his skateboard the other, his face was so broken it was indecipherable. Clearly in shock, Hal pleaded, “Please don’t call an ambulance. I don’t have the money.” She dialed 911, and did her best to comfort him. “Hang in there. Everything will be alright.” 

Thanks to these two brave heroes and their quick response, Hal is alive, but remains in critical condition at UMC on life support. His face is literally broken into pieces. With one surgery to repair his tibia behind him, there are many ahead. His jaw is disconnected, eye sockets, nose, and sinus cavities shattered, blood and air on his brain, and a hole in his lung. On a positive note, he’s surprisingly responsive, and the doctors say his prognosis is guarded but very good. 

Those who know Hal will attest to his gentle spirit, kind heart, and positive nature. A loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many, he’s always been the one to attend to others, but the tables have turned, and it’s now he who desperately needs the community’s support. 

I hope you find it in your heart to help our friend Hal heal.