Teen football player crushed by tree at friend's birthday party

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A 13-year-old Blanchester boy is recovering at Cincinnati Children's Hospital after a tree fell on him at friend's birthday party.

The tree fractured two of Lucas Cirivello's neck bones as well as his cheek and jaw bones. It also broke his nose and caused minor brain bleeding.

Jessica Stevenson, whose nephew attended the party, said Lucas was walking across a makeshift tight rope tied between two trees when he lost his balance.

"Lucas had fallen off of that and the weight when he fell--they didn't realize the tree was dead--and it fell on top of him," said Stevenson.

Lucas's friends hoisted the tree off of him and paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he had neck surgery.

But his parents say it won't be enough to salvage his dreams of playing sports.

Lucas has been playing football since the age of six, his father, Mike Cirivello, said.

"He did ask about football this year and obviously, that's not a--that's a no-go," said Lucas's mother, Jennifer Phillips. "We haven't talked about the future."

Stevenson, who founded the non-profit Do Good Mission, is working to make the present as easy as possible for Lucas's family.

Her group has already raised more than $6,000 for Lucas's medical bills and has organized food deliveries to the family home.

"Hopefully it's just a small speed bump, but it's a rough speed bump," said Mike Cirivello. "Will say that."

Lucas will undergo surgery to fix his nose Wednesday. Doctors haven't said when he'll be able to return home.

Do Good Mission has set up a Facebook page to raise money for Lucas.