A teenaged athlete paralyzed last week when he was shot in the back in a hunting accident continues to show signs of improvement.
A Facebook post from the family of 16-year-old Trent Seymour, 16, said Seymour has regained consciousness and is resting in his hospital bed at Vancouver General Hospital.
"Trent's condition has improved. He is sitting up and has started to drink fluids. Another step in the right direction," reads a message posted Friday on the Facebook page, Love, Support & Prayers for Trent Seymour. "He is going to survive."
Seymour's spinal cord was severed and he suffered injuries to his internal organs which required surgery when he was hit by a .22-calibre bullet a week ago Sunday near his home on the Shelley reserve when his friend tripped with the loaded rifle and the gun discharged.
Seymour was flown by air ambulance to Vancouver and he remains in stable condition in VGH.
The Grade 12 student at Kelly Road secondary school has told his family members and doctors that he has no feeling in his legs and he remains paralyzed from the waist down.
The local community has rallied in response to the tragedy.
A fundraising barbecue is being planned for next Sunday at Spruce City Stadium at Carrie Jane Gray Park and everyone is invited to the $10 per plate event, being organized by Cindy Ghostkeeper and Peter Ghostkeeper, president of the Spruce City Major Men's Fastball Association.
Some of the members of Seymour's B.C. softball team, which won gold at the North American Indigenous Games in Regina in August plan to be there to play a few pickup softball games. A home run hitting contest is also planned for that day.
For more information call 250-614-3605 or 250-563-2828.
A trust fund at Integris Credit Union has been opened under Trent's name to help the family cope with long-term expenses of travel to and from Vancouver, where Trent is expected to remain for at least the next three months. It is anticipated the family home in Shelley, northeast of Prince George, will have to be renovated to make it wheelchair-accessible for Seymour.
All Integris Credit Union branches in the city are accepting donations to the account, No. 80122861.
