A Marysville Pilchuck High School junior badly injured in a March dirt bike accident has moved out of the intensive care unit at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center.
Nic Trout, 16, left Harborview earlier this month and recently began rehabilitation at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The teen has been hospitalized since March 10, after he fell from a 35-foot embankment while riding with friends in an off-road area near Mount Vernon. The Lake Stevens boy is paralyzed from the chest down.
Ryan Trout said his son has mobility in his right arm and is regaining function in his left arm.
“It’s been a rough road but he’s doing a lot better,” Trout said. “At this point he’s getting on Facebook and texting and doing things that you would expect a 16-year-old to do.”
Nic started rehabilitation April 16.
He could be discharged from the hospital in June, depending on how well his recovery process goes, Trout said.
He was with Nic on April 22 when he took his first trip outside since the accident.
“He very much enjoyed being outside,” Trout said. “He’s an outdoors kind of kid.”
Nic’s friends, football coaches, counselors and school principal have visited him in the hospital, Trout added. He plans to continue posting updates throughout the summer about Nic’s recovery online at www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholastrout.
Christen Lacic, a friend of the Trout family, organized a “dine for donations” benefit April 11 at Boston’s Restaurant in Marysville. The event was well attended, Lacic said.
“It went really well,” she said. “His mom, Dyann, came and was pretty overwhelmed by the people who came to support him. The place was packed the whole three hours and there was about an hour wait the whole time.”
Lacic’s fundraising goal is to raise at least $20,000 to help the family buy a wheelchair-accessible van for Nic. About $3,500 has been raised so far and two additional fundraisers are scheduled, Lacic said. A portion of ticket sales to the 7 p.m. Everett Raptors Indoor Football game on May 4 at Comcast Arena in Everett will go to Nic’s medical expenses. Those who want to donate should use “Trout” as a promotional code when ordering tickets.
A dinner, comedy show and silent auction also are planned for 6 p.m. June 2 at Gleneagle Golf Course, 7619 Country Club Dr. in Arlington. Tickets can be bought in advance for $20 per person through www.helptroutfamily.com.
“That will probably be the last of the bigger events but they may do something at the school to raise money when the school year starts up again,” Lacic said.
Donations for Nic’s recovery can be made at www.helptroutfamily.com. A Facebook donation page also has been set up along with a Trout Family Recovery Fund at any Chase Bank branch.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
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