SNOQUALMIE – A 15-year-old Snoqualmie boy who hit his head on a rock June 20 during a diving accident at Blue Hole is still in a coma.
But, Caleb Williams, 15, is showing signs of improvement every day and has attracted the attention of people all over the Valley who have reached out to the boy and his family.
Williams, who will be a sophomore at Mount Si High School this fall, was brought home from Harborview Medical Center last week and is now being cared for by his family and a home care service since he needs round-the-clock attention. Caleb’s mom, Kim, is his primary caregiver.
“It could still be a long haul but he’s making very slow progress. Any progress is good progress,” she said. “Last night he tracked a basketball with his eyes, anything like that is progress.”
The family has received a lot of help from Caleb’s classmates, who come over to his house every Wednesday to do housework and care for the lawn.
“It’s overwhelming, the community support. We just had a huge outpouring of people come and build a ramp for him or bring food, cards, people coming to stay with him while I go to the store … I’m amazed at how much people stepped forward to help us with this,” Kim said. She and her husband, Andy Williams, also have a 17-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter.
Caleb was knocked unconscious after he fell from a high rope swing over Blue Hole, a popular swimming spot on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Injuries included a broken left arm, broken cheek bone and various cuts and bruises all over his body. MRIs showed no brain stem damage and no neck, vertebrae or spinal cord damage.
Caleb recently started physical therapy and is doing well with his range of motion. “It’s not a huge change but he does seem aware of some things and stimulus around him,” Kim said.
While the family’s health insurance has been helpful, they still bear significant out-of-pocket medical expenses for Caleb. Community members around the Valley have been organizing fund raisers to help the family out.
The Mount Si High School boys basketball program, for which Caleb is player No. 4, is using its annual golf tournament to raise money not only for the program, but also for Caleb. This year’s event is a four-person scramble that takes place at Mount Si Golf Course on Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. There is room for 36 foursomes to participate. The fee to play is $75 per player (which includes lunch). If a player pays more than $75 (suggested amounts would be $25 or $50 additional) the excess will be given to the Williams family to help cover medical expenses.
Spots are limited and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for the tournament, contact Steve Clearman at (steve.clearman@corbis.com) or Garrick Phillips (phillipsg@snoqualmie.k12.wa.us). Please provide the names of golfers who would like to play together.
North Bend’s Si View Community Center, 400 E. Orchard Ave., is hosting a car wash from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 15 to benefit Caleb.
A barbecue fund raiser will take place at the Benson Barn at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. Hamburgers, hotdogs and beverages have been donated for up to 400 people. Everyone is welcome and attendees are encouraged to bring a dessert to pass. There will be some items available on a silent auction basis. Those with something special to donate or who would like to help procure items are asked to contact Steve or Tricia Clearman at (425) 831-2026. Donations will be accepted and all amounts raised through donations or auctioned items will go to cover the Williams’ medical costs. The Benson Barn is located at the south end of Maloney Grove Road (424th Ave. S.E.) in North Bend.
Also, look for donation cans dedicated to Caleb in local businesses. For larger donations, visit any Washington Mutual branch and ask a teller to deposit the donation in the benevolent fund for Caleb Williams.
