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I realize many of you don't know who I am and certanly don't know my friend, Neil, but if you have the means I know his family will be very grateful. :( :( This has been a devastating experience.

damn Im only 30 minutes from that Hospital,
Speed., setup a fund raiser You have a free DJ Pa system on me.

So sad, how did it happen. Travis just posted about cracking his sled up last week. I am amazed at the speeds some of these machines go now, pretty scary.

Let me know where to contribute ....sad ....However ....how could have enough money to have a sled but no insurance ? Maybe this will be a wakeup call to him and others like him ... I am sure he is a great guy ..but he has a wife and son to support .... Gods Speed ....

Neil Couch Medical Expense Fund c/o
HSBC Bank
Box 71
Watkins Glen, NY
14891
He is just starting out at Prudential. They have a grace period until insurance bene's start. He hit a Boulder that was covered by snow, approx. 12" high. He was moving. Estimated impact speeds at about 60-75mph. The sheriff dept. Thinks he stayed with the sled (even while it rolled an estimated 4 times) and did not get ejected. The sled was approx. 25 feet from primary impact point. The left right front A-arms, shock, tie-rod, ski, are bent backwards to a 90.
I did not want to post this on OSO but I think there may be a few that would be willing to contribute. There are programs in the area that may cover the Hospital bill but there are NONE that will cover the bill's from the nuerologist, the trauma doc, the $7000.00 10 minute Helo ride. The primary responding ambulance, radiologist, etc, etc. Currently Neil has a specialized nurse at his bedside 24hrs. a day. Neil is currently paying off college, a car, he still owes $2000 on the snowmobile and of course your standard living expenses. A financial blow of this magnitude could be detrimental to the rest of his life (god willing). I am very close with Neil and his family, I felt that these attempts are the least I could do. :(

P.S. Thank You Topdj. We will have a benefit after Neil recovers a bit more. I will be in touch.
P.S. Remember - Nobody ever plans for an accident.

I hope that Neil recovers completely and quickly.
Glad that he wasn't killed.

I also hope that other 23 year olds reading this prioritize insurance above the new sled, boat, or motorcycle that they have their eye on.
Especially if they already have kids.

If you have to choose between a toy and four hundred bucks a month for insurance until your coverage at work starts....get the insurance.

I'm sure that Neil would agree completely right about now.

Ya know.... I hope that this thread helps Neil.

I'm starting to think that it may save others from getting in the same situation, also.

Neil is still in ICU. The medical staff at Robert Packer Hosp. were able to "close up his liver". As I stated before he had a Laceration and they were concerned that he would have to have a portion of his Liver removed. By the grace of god his liver stopped bleeding and in fact seemed to be functioning fine. Neil is still under sedation. If he woke up at this time the pain would be unbearable. I was also informed today that they will have to wire his jaw shut. His lungs are slowly coming around. They are trying to ween him off the respirator.
Today the Ambulance Co. that showed up before the Helo, said that they may help Neil out ($$$). Obviously this is great news.
Since all of the contributions are being sent directly to the bank where the acct. is, it may take me a while to see the results of this post. If any of you were kind enough to contribute, thank-you very much. Please OSO remember it doesn't take much. A little bit from a lot of people will mean the world to Neil and his Family.
P.S. Attached are a couple pics of his sled. Jenny was able to take the pics with her cell phone. She is the only one that was allowed to see the sled. It's in a "secured area" .

Just moving it ttt hoping everybody will see this. Sorry to be a p in the a.

I hope he is getting better :(

I think this is Neil
http://www.ambroseshoemaker.com/cust...ization_id=110

found a report on the accident
http://www.the-leader.com/articles/2...ws/local05.txt

Excessive speed may have contributed to a snowmobile accident that has left a Watkins Glen man in serious condition at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa.

Neil J. Couch, 24, of 111 15th St., Watkins Glen, was injured early Saturday morning while racing a snowmobile across Cayuta Lake along with several other riders, according to the Schuyler County Sheriff's Department. The accident occurred on the north side of the lake near Lock Heid Road.

Couch was ejected from the craft after the vehicle struck a boulder and a tree near the edge of the lake, deputies said. Hospital officials refused to release the nature of his injuries.

"He hit two rocks at the edge of the lake and a tree just on shore before he was ejected," Schuyler County Under-sheriff William Yessman said Monday.

Deputies said it has not been determined if alcohol played a role in the accident.

"Because of the nature of the injury, we were not able to check out if he was drinking," Yessman said. "The emergency personnel were just interested in keeping him alive."

Yessman said speed was a factor.

"I'm sure he was going at a really good clip," he said.

The Odessa Fire Depart-ment and Schuyler Ambu-lance assisted at the scene. The accident was called in by one of the people riding in the group with Couch.

Thanks for posting that TopDJ. That is indeed Neil. The accident report does say he hit a tree but that is inaccurate.
Neil is progressing slowly...but atleast he is moving forward. Thank-you again for those of you that contributed to Neils medical fund. I do not have access to the box as the contributions are being sent directly to the bank. I sure hope he is receiving something :(