LOUISVILLE − The family of Louisville High School student Brandon Pittman is asking for continued prayers as he recovers in Akron Children's Hospital from serious injuries sustained in a car crash.
Brandon was in a single-car collision at 10 a.m. June 4 on Georgetown Road , according to his older sister, Breanna.
"He was just driving, and he was taking a curve a little too hard," she said.
Brandon has been unconscious since the crash but is improving, Breanna said Wednesday morning.
"He's half-opening his eyes for periods of time, which is a great sign," she said. "They're starting motor therapy. They picked him up to stand today. It brought me to tears. They're starting music therapy, playing his favorite songs."
She descibed a prayer vigil conducted Sunday at Leopard Stadium as "beautiful."
Brandon recently completed his junior year at Louisville High School and R.G. Drage Career Technical Center. He earned a 4.0 grade-point average for the spring term, when he was a captain of the Louisville lacrosse team.
Brandon's family has issued updates on a GoFundMe page launched by a family friend, Tami Gedeon, to help with expenses.
Brandon Pittman recovering at Akron Children's Hospital
Some excerpts, in sequence were:
- Thursday: "We are very lucky he is still alive and God's hands have been all over this. He's still not awake and still not following directives but is randomly moving all his extremities. Still has the drain in his brain. Taking it hour by hour and praying he wakes up today."
- Saturday: "No brain clots. Had injury to tendons and ligaments in neck and will have to wear a collar for several months, most likely. The majority of his brain injury includes his eyesight, especially on the right side. Opening his eyes off and on but does not keep them open. Not responsive to directives but is responsive to painful stimuli. He is progressing, slowly, but it’s progress. We have been by his bedside night and day and we read him all the cards, texts, well wishes. He can hear us. Brandon is strong, athletic and otherwise healthy so we have high hopes. We cannot thank everyone enough from the bottom of our hearts."
- Sunday: The family continued to urge prayers "for Brandon to awaken."
- Monday: "Brandon is doing much better. He is out of the ICU unit and in step down ICU. He still has not woken up, still breathing on his own and there are way more tubes out of him! He is progressing every day making small improvements. They have a saying up here. Brandon‘s battle is going to be a marathon not a sprint, every day. We have a small win (he scratched his nose). Thank you all for your love and prayers."
- Tuesday: "He had his eyes open a little more today. They sat him up in the bed three times. Please continue sending prayers!"
As of Wednesday morning, more than 450 donations were recorded on GoFundMe.
'We're staying strong for Brandon.'
"Our family can't say enough about how wonderful the community has been," Breanna said. "We ask people to continue to pray.
"We're staying strong for Brandon. We're keeping that positive mindset. Every movement is a win."
Brandon's parents have accommodations in Ronald McDonald House.
The family attends Louisville Church of Christ. Pastor Scott Perreault drove Brandon's parents, Melissa and Brian, to Akron Children's last Tuesday. Both parents were at work when they were summoned to Aultman Hospital. From there, Brandon was taken by medical helicopter to Akron.
Brandon underwent brain surgery after arriving at Akron Children’s and emerged in stable but critical condition.
"He has always helped out wherever needed," Breanna said. "He's a hard worker, a supportive best friend.
"He loves working on cars. He's been in the auto mechanics program at R.G. Drage. He's talked about going into the Army or starting his own mechanics shop."
He is employed by Gearhead's Garage in Louisville.
"He works at Gearhead's, but he would work on anybody's car that would bring it to him," his sister said.
On the lacrosse team, Brandon contributed to all three of the Leopards' victories during the recently completed season.
He scored two goals and assisted Blake Balderson on another in a win over Cleveland Heights. He scored, assisted by Seth Colley, in a victory over Kent Roosevelt. In a tournament win over West Geauga on May 14 at Leopard Stadium, he scored two goals and assisted Balderson on another.
Brandon is allowed some visitors, two at a time, with a 10-minute restriction.
Fundraisers are planned at Louisville McDonald's, 219 N. Chapel St., from 5 to 8 p.m. June 19; and at Kozy Cabin Coffee Shop, 2110 E. Main St., on June 21.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Louisville High School student in Akron Children's Hospital with serious injuries
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