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JS football player injured seriously at practice remains critical at Geisinger

Caleb Leone

JERSEY SHORE — Get the prayer chains going.

Call all your friends and relatives and tell them Caleb Leone and his family need them to pray for a miracle.

Caleb, 17, was seriously injured last week during Jersey Shore High School football practice.

He underwent major brain surgery and remains in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

His parents, Danielle and Jake Leone, 607 S. Broad St., have kept a vigil at the bedside of their son, who has been unconscious since the accident happened.

“There is no prognosis yet,” Jake said, as he talked to The Express from Geisinger yesterday afternoon. ‘He’s still in a coma.”

Jake said it was the last Tuesday, the second day of varsity football practice and just 15 minutes before the practice session was to end, when Caleb was hurt.

“It was a helmet to helmet hit… but we’re not blaming anybody. It was a freak accident,” Jake said.

However, Jake said he and his family are disappointed with the school district.

“There has been no contact at all from anyone in the district… nobody has called us or reached out to us,” he said, upset by the obvious lack of concern by the district.

“We’re really thankful for all the love and support we’re receiving from the community. It’s amazing,” Jake continued.

Caleb has played football since he was 5 years old and just loves sports. He also wrestles, his father said.

And he’s not just good at sports, he’s also a very good student. A senior this year, Caleb has been on the honor roll every year.

“He’s just a great kid,” his dad said.

Jake and Danielle were both at work when the accident happened. Caleb was taken first to Jersey Shore Hospital and then flown by Lifeflight to Geisinger.

Caleb has undergone brain surgery and numerous other procedures, but his condition has not improved to this point, Jake said.

“We’re just asking for prayers. Please keep praying,” Jake said.

JS School District

issues brief statement

Jersey Shore School District issued the following statement on its Facebook page on Friday.

“As many of you are aware, one of our Jersey Shore Bulldog football team members was injured during practice this past week. Our athletics personnel attended to the athlete’s needs in order to ensure he received help as quickly as possible. We take great pride in the training and expertise of our coaches and athletics-training staff, who consistently place the well-being and safety of our students first and above all else. The athletics staff was conducting the practice, as always, in accordance with all PIAA guidelines and requirements, again with student safety foremost in their mind. Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the student, his family, teammates and our community. Thank you.”

YOUCANHELP

The friends and family of Caleb Leone have started fundraising to help pay medical expenses for Caleb and his family.

– A Gofundme account has been set up at www.gofundme.com/caleb-20-strong

– Donations can be mailed to Caleb’s grandparents home, Dominick and Nancy Leone, 587 S. Broad St., Jersey Shore.

– And Caleb will be on the minds of everyone at Friday night’s opening varsity football game at Jersey Shore.

“20 Strong,” referencing Caleb’s number 20 jersey will appear everywhere, as T-shirts, bracelets and candles will be sold and orders taken.

Caleb’s sister Aubrey is organizing a “20 Out,” asking everyone to come out to the game and wear orange with the number 20 on their shirts to send a special message to her brother.

– Phil it Up, a drive-in restaurant in Jersey Shore, will be donating 20 percent of all its sales from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, to the Leone family.

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