South Jersey teen needs support after hit-and-run in Hawaii. Here’s how to help
HONOLULU - Val DeCola had never been to Hawaii before.
An emergency trip to be at the bedside of her critically injured teen son is no way to make that first.
But, ”that’s what moms do.”
More: Springdale Road tragedyTeen victim of hit-and-run accident was starting a new life in Cherry Hill
DeCola, of Maple Shade, has been on Oahu with her son, Christian, 19, since Feb. 13 after learning the University of Chaminade forensic science major was critically injured in a hit-and-run crash while delivering food on his moped.
On Monday, she boarded a flight home - this time with Christian at her side.
This Courier-Post journalist was on Oahu last week when DeCola emailed about a crowdfunding campaign to offset the cost of Christian’s medical flight and continued care. We met Sunday evening at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu as mother and son readied to return to the Garden State.
What happened to Christian DeCola?
Christian, ”a theater kid,” mom said, was making a delivery about 10 p.m. Feb. 12 on Dole Street near the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa when the crash happened.
DeCola doesn’t know who hit Christian, where that person is now or how it happened. Beyond a case number, DeCola’s been given no details from the Honolulu Police Department.
A message sent Saturday to a spokesperson for the department went unanswered.
The call to DeCola came early in the morning, Jersey time. She recognized the hospital’s number from a call weeks earlier when Christian had a minor moped accident.
This time it was much worse, and within hours she was at JFK International for a direct flight to Honolulu.
Christian’s injuries are profound
In this crowded beach resort, mopeds are as ubiquitous as sunburns and beach chairs.
There are no helmet laws here. Christian wasn’t wearing one when he was hit; the injuries were profound.
He had bleeding into the brain and blood collected beneath the skull; his temporal bone was fractured; he shattered his left kneecap and he has an altered mental status.
“He only really remembers college right now,” DeCola said.
Those who know Christian, though, remember a ”funny, smart, handsome,” young man, she said.
“I know all moms say this, but this kid is special and was following his dream to see the world.”
Christian greeted his journalist visitor Sunday evening with a vibrant hello and a compliment about the flip flops he was wearing.
Christian quizzed his mom about the notes around his room reminding of Monday’s release and snatched her up in a deep hug when she assured him they’d soon be Jersey bound.
“Thank you for visiting,” Christian called as we left the room.
DeCola paused at the door and then smiled. ”That was nice to hear him say.”
Why the DeCola family needs help
“It’s difficult to explain how hard it is to get us out of here,” she said.
The flight home with a medical escort wasn’t covered by Christian’s insurance and his care in Honolulu was all out of network.
The mother of three - sister Penelope, 8, and brother Jax, 7, are back home with dad Andy Ashmen - isn’t used to asking for help.
But after years of freely helping others it's time to let others help her family.
“We get by and enjoy helping others, so it just means the world to know how much people care.”
In the two weeks since the crash, donors have contributed more than $27,000 toward a GoFundMe goal of $50,000.
The 2022 Maple Shade High School graduate, who returned to South Jersey on Tuesday morning, will spend about two weeks at Kessler Rehabilitation Center in Marlton before going home.
The medical care and life adjustments, though, will continue.
“My main goal is to get him back to the way he was before, even just a few months,” DeCola said. ”But, we really just are hoping for a connection again.”
Christian started classes at University of Chaminade in January. A spokeswoman on Saturday afternoon said the college supports the freshman in his recovery.
“We were sorry to hear of Christian’s accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he prepares to return home.”
Those who wish to donate to Christian’s benefit should visit gofundme.com/f/christian-decola-medical-expenses
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Christian DeCola returns to New Jersey after hit-run crash in Hawaii
