16 year old struck after leaving the Blazers Game

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Денг Гордон said:
I'm pretty sure it means that he was one of the stupid kids in school, and this was a way of labeling him to make it seem like it wasn't his fault for being stupid, when it probably was his fault, as he skipped class and didn't do homework, etc.

At least that's how it was when I was in school as far as these labels go.

And even if the person wasn't just stupid, and was actually mentally retarded, I don't see how it's the Rose Garden's fault that a kid walked off their premises, and got hit by a car, not on their premises. Sounds like the guardians fault.
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wow is all I have to say to this.
 
Денг Гордон said:
And even if the person wasn't just stupid, and was actually mentally retarded, I don't see how it's the Rose Garden's fault that a kid walked off their premises, and got hit by a car, not on their premises. Sounds like the guardians fault.
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Especially if it was only his second time at the RG for a Blazer game, one of the guardians or friends should have left with him outside the doors if everything was still unfamiliar to him.
The last RG person who saw him leave will definitely have guilt trip feelings towards themselves but they shouldn't really. Keeping informed by various workers at the RG there was radio traffic about his aware abouts and him leaving the south doors at a certain time heading towards the max station.
I do give out my condolences to his family, his recovery and his other friends feeling guilty on this matter. I just hope there isn't a lawsuit against the RG and its staff for something that it wasn't completely responsibility on.
 
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Nate Dogg said:
Especially if it was only his second time at the RG for a Blazer game, one of the guardians or friends should have left with him outside the doors if everything was still unfamiliar to him.
The last RG person who saw him leave will definitely have guilt trip feelings towards themselves but they shouldn't really. Keeping informed by various workers at the RG there was radio traffic about his aware abouts and him leaving the south doors at a certain time heading towards the max station.
I do give out my condolences to his family, his recovery and his other friends feeling guilty on this matter. I just hope there isn't a lawsuit against the RG and its staff for something that it wasn't completely responsibility on.
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Did they know he had down syndrome (maybe a result of him being in a suite?) and were they given any orders to watch him?

I don't see the Rose Garden being responsible. I've never really seen any staff at a sports arena being concerned with much more than keeping you out of seats better than your tickets are.
 
All that we suspected that he had was a "mental issue" mishap but it didn't come across as "down syndrome". There are certain things that can't be said on the radio (down syndrome), since everything is being recorded through the command center.
There are at least 3 lines of radio frequencies that are used by the RG staff, and they can switch to dispatch/command center. Thats all I can reveal.
 
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Денг Гордон said:
You're obviously out of touch. I was in high school less than a year ago, in a "ghetto" high school, so I know how it is.
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This is what I responded to:

Денг Гордон said:
I'm pretty sure it means that he was one of the stupid kids in school, and this was a way of labeling him to make it seem like it wasn't his fault for being stupid, when it probably was his fault, as he skipped class and didn't do homework, etc.
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I may be multiple decades removed from high school, but I know when someone is making a HUGE assumption - one that turned out, as they often do, to be incorrect. You were "pretty sure" you knew something about this poor kid's situation when, in fact, you didn't.

Such unfounded, baseless speculation is highly inappropriate in such a tragic situation as this. If that makes me "out of touch" in your eyes, I'm glad.

BNM
 
Watching the news this morning and they had a interview with the boys father. Two cars hit the boy and his father said that they shouldn't blame themselves and that they were praying for them. He said that he wondered away from care takers. The father said another son called and ask if he should come home to say goodbye to him? He ask the surgeon and he told him yes. Hopefully he has improved since then.

They said the boy almost died at birth and that his mom wrote a book about it that is going to be release soon or has just been released.

Ooops, just seen it again and she wrote the book 16 years ago.
 
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mgb said:
Watching the news this morning and they had a interview with the boys father. Two cars hit the boy and his father said that they shouldn't blame themselves and that they were praying for them. He said that he wondered away from care takers. The father said another son called and ask if he should come home to say goodbye to him? He ask the surgeon and he told him yes. Hopefully he has improved since then.

They said the boy almost died at birth and that his mom wrote a book about it that is going to be release soon or has just been released.

Ooops, just seen it again and she wrote the book 16 years ago.
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John and Pam, the mother and father, are wonderful people. I believe Pam has written several books on different subjects.
 
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I'm glad the boy seems to be recovering.

And, just like a lot of pretend doctors don't know Oden's condition, a lot of pretend educators don't know this boy's. So why can't we just send best wishes, to both of them?

While it was not the Blazers' fault, I think it would be nice, if/when the boy regains consciousness, to send some souvenirs or even have a couple of players visit him in the hospital.
 
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crandc said:
I'm glad the boy seems to be recovering.

And, just like a lot of pretend doctors don't know Oden's condition, a lot of pretend educators don't know this boys. So why can't we just send best wishes, to both of them?
While it was not the Blazers' fault, I think it would be nice, if/when the boy regains consciousness, to send some souvenirs or even have a couple of players visit him in the hospital.
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I agree and certainly send best wishes. And as his father did I hope the drivers don't blame themselves. I know how I would feel if I hit a kid even if it wasn't my fault.
 
Nate Dogg said:
I hope they set up a medical donation site. If I could have more money I would pitch in. KGW just did an article on his condition.
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_030209_news_teen_hit_interstate.1aeebf2d.html
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They have an account set up at B of A for medical donations. Great family who make a decent living, but as pastors and authors they don't have medical coverage. The job John lost was him leaving a church as pastor to start his own church. They are sending there older son through school at U of Tenn.


Here is the latest update from his sister.

Nathan’s brain had increased from a stable pt.5 to the 30's this am at around 6. They scheduled him for a CAT scan later today. They are preparing to take him down now as I am typing this. Good news is that around 10:30 am Nathan's cranial pressure went back down to pt.6 this is stable and our nurse is happy with where it is at.
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That was about 4 hours ago.
 
Sweet.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/03/pacers_at_trail_blazers.html

The Blazers (Wednesday night) will be hosting a fundraiser at the Rose Garden for the family of Nathan Vredevelt, a 16 year-old boy who was injured Sunday and remains in critical condition at a Portland hospital. Vredevelt, who has Down syndrome, was struck by two cars on Interstate 5 during the Blazers' game against the Spurs. His family does not have insurance, so the Blazers are matching donations made at tonight's game -- up to $10,000 -- to help cover his medical expenses.
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KGW had a nice piece on the kid during tonight's 6pm newscast.
 
This article explains in more detail what happen.

http://www.katu.com/news/40666122.html

The teen was watching the basketball game in an executive suite at the Rose Garden with his sister, his caregiver and other adults when he signed that he needed to use the bathroom, which is located in the suite but around a corner near the door. Apparently someone was in the bathroom at the time, and the 16-year-old decided to leave the suite through the door, which was open due to halftime, rather than wait.

His caregiver went to check on him after two or three minutes and immediately realized the teen was gone. Because it was halftime, the concourse was packed with people, and the teen could not be found. They called security within five minutes, but by that time, the teen had apparently already traveled to the first floor and left the arena.

As his caregiver and others continued to search for him, the 16-year-old was outside walking into traffic on I-5. Less than 20 minutes passed before he was struck by the two vehicles about 6:50 p.m., Ketch said.

"He's 16 years old and he's quick and he has an incredible sense of adventure," said Pam Vredevelt, who does not blame those looking after him that night for what happened. She and her husband, John, could not make the game.
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Posted today on KGW's website.
The Portland Trail Blazers want to help the family of a Down syndrome teen who was hit by two cars on I-5 after wandering out of a Blazers game.

The team is hosting a fundraiser for the family of Nathan Vredevelt, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, during its home game against the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night.
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This situation is quite sad, and I'm not trying to make fun of it by saying I would've thought Canzano would've been all over this by now.

It's good to hear MM's report from his sister about this...thanks for the updates.
 
Update a little while ago

Nathan’s condition continues to be stable. Carl Knox spent the night holding Nathan’s hand, and said the night was very peaceful. Nathan had some very special visitors this am. We are all blessed by the generosity and compassion our community is giving us. You are truly loved and appreciated. Please continue to post pictures and stories you have with Nathan. We love you.


Jessie
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Heard on the news that more than $41,000 was raised tonight. Props to the fans who went to the game tonight for donating!
 
alex42083 said:
Heard on the news that more than $41,000 was raised tonight. Props to the fans who went to the game tonight for donating!
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That's great. I hope the funds raised and matched by the Blazers will cover his medical expenses.
 
I think it would be a big emotional breakthrough for his family and friends to have him introduced with the game ball or half time introduction. I think photos of him on the big screen and blazers visiting him would be a good uplifting story. I would imagine more fan support and donations for his recovery would be a big step for everyone in the Blazer organization and fans.
This is going to be a long recovery process for him but I think something like this would be a good boost for everyones morale.
 
Press Release that was sent out.

MORE THAN $41,000 RAISED FOR INJURED PORTLAND TEEN
$10,000 donations from Trail Blazers, Southlake Church augment $21,346.58 raised by fans in attendance

In an overwhelming show of community support, fans attending and watching tonight’s Portland Trail Blazers game against the Indiana Pacers raised $21,346.58 to assist the family of Portland-area teen Nathan Vredevelt.

Vredevelt, 16, was injured as he attempted to cross I-5 near the Rose Quarter Sunday evening and remains hospitalized in critical condition. The family is without medical insurance.

Trail Blazers staff, alumni and volunteers representing the Vredevelt family’s friends and church community solicited the donations at ingress and egress of tonight’s game at the Rose Garden, and also staffed a table on the 100-level concourse throughout the evening. Fans donated what they could, in amounts ranging from $1 to $2,000.

An ingress collection of $13,048.42 was tallied by halftime. An additional $8,298.16 was collected at egress or via donations made by fans through the Trail Blazers web site.

“We are fortunate to live in a community full of people who rally together to tend to those most in need,” Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said. “Our hearts go out to the Vredevelt family, and we are among the many Portlanders keeping Nathan and his family in our thoughts and prayers right now.”

The Trail Blazers pledged on Tuesday to match donations made by fans at tonight’s game, up to $10,000. Southlake Church, a church attended by the Vredevelt family, today responded in kind. The matching $10,000 donations will result in a total donation of more than $41,000 to help the Vredevelt family with medical bills.

“Southlake Church has been inspired by the Trail Blazers generosity for the Vredevelt family,” said pastor Kip Jacob. “We are standing with them and will match the amount that the Blazers donate. As a church family, we believe it’s not about what we are against, but what we are for.”

Citizens still interested in assisting the Vredevelt family can donate directly to the Nathan Vredevelt Benefit Donation Fund at any Wells Fargo store or via Trailblazers.com.
“We cannot thank you enough for the outpouring of your love and support,” the Vredevelt family said in a statement on Wednesday evening. “Your prayers are carrying us and God is revealing His grace minute by minute.
“The injuries Nathan sustained are extensive. We believe Nathan is not in any pain and that soon he will be going home to be with Jesus. Thank you for your love and gifts.”
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