An Odessa Shannon Middle School student is in serious condition after being struck in the head by a metal object during a gym class Wednesday.
“A student was struck by what was described as a metal object thrown by another student, resulting in injuries that required immediate medical attention,” said Principal Natasha H. Booms.
The student, a male, remains hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit.
“Our thoughts and hearts are with the student and their family, and we are staying in contact to offer support and receive updates on their condition,” Booms wrote in a letter to the school community.
Emily Diaz, the student’s mother, set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for her son, Lenny, which was first reported by the MoCo Show.
“The injury he sustained was an open skull injury and the bone fragments went into his brain,” said Diaz. The child is on a breathing tube.
“[M]y son is a very smart, loving, adventurous young boy and I feel like his life was taken even though he’s still alive. We are unsure of how he will be after recovery, but the possibilities of him being impaired are there (speech, mobility & memory). I’m praying God does his miracle in him and he recovers and comes back as he was,” said Diaz in a statement on the fundraising site.
As of Friday at noon, more than $10,000 had been donated by 222 people.
“We recognize that any serious incident affects our entire school community. Please know we are taking this matter seriously and with care. Our staff will continue to reinforce expectations for safety and appropriate behavior, and additional supports are available for students or staff who may need to talk about what happened,” wrote Booms.
