How a community cares for its residents in a time of need says a great deal. What we’ve seen in support for Erin Newcomb from the greater Hope area speaks well of the small town in northeastern Bartholomew County.
The community has embraced Hauser High School senior Erin Newcomb, who was critically injured Aug. 29 at the beginning of the school year when she was among four students whose vehicle was struck by an oncoming truck just across from the school campus.
Erin suffered a traumatic brain injury and broken bones in multiple parts of her body. She spent 51 days at four different hospitals during the next seven weeks until her Oct. 19 release.
She still has more challenges ahead, such as about three months of physical therapy to help her regain balance and coordination. The full impact of the traumatic brain injury won’t be fully known for a while.
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But what has been especially helpful for Erin and her family has been the outpouring of support from Hope area residents and others.
Several fundraisers have been conducted to assist the family, such as the sale of T-shirts by Special by Design to raise money for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Monetary donations from the Students’ Fund of Hope paid for new handicap-accessible ramps.
Neighbors have provided gas cards to the family to cover fuel costs for therapy trips to Indianapolis. Erin received hospital visits from supporters, and classmates who visited when she returned home, for example.
Erin also was recognized Nov. 1 at the Hauser fall sports banquet, where she received a warm welcome from the 150 who attended.
Also, 2018 Columbus Christian graduate Levi Sallee, a student-athlete who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2016, and members of Josh Speidel’s family, a Columbus North athlete who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2015, have also reached out to Erin.
The way the Hope community has banded together to support the young woman and her family reflects a great deal of care, compassion, generosity and love. Those are great qualities for a community to have in abundance.
