Fund is established to assist Faulkners with medical bills

  A fund to help pay the medical expenses for Patrick Faulkner, the 15-year-old Libby High School sophomore who was critically injured July 25 in a head-on accident on U.S. Route 2, has been established at Lincoln County Credit Union.

  Faulkner sustained severe head, side and pelvic injuries in the accident, which occurred about six miles south of Libby shortly before noon.

  After the accident, Faulkner was airlifted to Kalispell where he has been recovering slowly from the accident that totaled both vehicles.

  Also injured in the accident was Robert Adkison, who was treated and released.

  A Website, detailing Faulkner’s progress has been maintained by his parents. That site is:

  Here is Patrick Faulkner’s story, written by his parents and taken from the hospital Website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/patrickfaulkner/en.

  An entry on the day of the accident reports the following:

  “On July 25, Patrick had a busy day planned. He went into town very early to attend soccer camp, and then went home to pick up his mother and drive her to work. He was returning home to do some construction work with his brother and grandpa when he was involved in a very bad car accident. He was not speeding. He was not texting or talking on a phone. His seatbelt was fastened. Three air bags deployed. Patrick was helped within minutes by Libby’s finest emergency responders, and was then flown by Alert helicopter to Kalispell with serious head, arm and leg trauma. The other driver, at last update, was treated and released from the hospital. Please pray for all.”

   Friends and family are urged to follow Faulkner’s daily progress and read and sign the guestbook on the Website.

   For those who would like to do more to help, longtime family friend, Helen Clark-Barr, has set up an account at the local credit union for donations for Faulkner.

 According to the Web site, Faulkner “is at the beginning of a very long road to recovery from traumatic brain injury.  He is out of the intensive-care unit and is receiving acute care.  He has completed all necessary surgeries, and no more are expected.  He’s made great progress in the three weeks since the accident and seems to find a way to amaze everyone on nearly a daily basis. He is nearly ready to begin more intensive rehabilitation therapy for an indeterminate period of time.”  

 Persons wishing to contribute should make checks or money orders out to: Lincoln County Credit Union (or LCCU). In the memo area, persons should write “donation to Patrick Faulkner.”