HERSHEY - Logan Williams is responding positively to treatment and stimulus at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital following a September lightning strike, his grandfather said Friday.
"He's responding to commands and doing things on his own. We're very pleased with the way things are going, but it will take a long time, unless there's a miracle," Mike Buriak said.
Logan, 10, a son of Daniel and Michelle Williams, was taken to the Hershey hospital Oct. 24 after spending nearly a month at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Logan was walking toward his house at 318 Dogwood Drive, Paxinos, after exiting a school bus at 3 p.m.
Sept. 28 when a lightning bolt struck a tree nearby. The electrical charge passed through the child, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unresponsive.
Buriak said doctors consider him still in a coma since he has not been able to communicate, but noted he has been able to pick up his head, smile and respond to voices and therapy.
"It's difficult for him, but he does it," he said.
Buriak said Logan's mother and grandmother spend most of their time at the hospital and say Logan is working hard.
"I was there Tuesday and went through therapy with him. You wouldn't believe how he's hard he's trying," he said.
Benefits continue
In effort to offset medical expenses, several benefit events have been held, and additional ones are scheduled.
Tonight, at the East End Fire Company in Springfield, a Chinese auction called "Shop and Drop" will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., and a benefit dinner will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight. The price of the dinner is $15.
On Nov. 12, Love for Logan 5-K Benefit Run/Walk will be held starting at the Shamokin Area Elementary School. Registration and check-in starts at 7 a.m. and the event will begin at 9 a.m. A Kids' Fun Run will be held at 10:15 a.m. Entry fee is $20 for adults and $8 for children. It will be held rain or shine. For more information, call Dave Barnes at 648-1210 or Darvey Bressi at 648-0590.
The family is also collecting recipes to put together for a benefit cookbook. Interested persons can submit their recipes to recipesforlogan@yahoo.com. Submissions will be taken until they receive enough to warrant a full book.
"We want to thank everybody who have been praying and organizing events, and making donations. It's greatly appreciated," Buriak said.