- A 7-year-old boy, Nathan Rees, is in a coma after an SUV accident.
- He suffered severe injuries, including head trauma and a broken jaw, requiring surgery.
- Family members started a GoFundMe* for financial support as recovery is expected to be long.
CEDAR CITY — The family of a 7-year-old boy who remains hospitalized in a medically induced coma after being pinned under an SUV that hit him while he was on a scooter Monday morning is preparing to say goodbye.
The boy, identified by family as Nathan Rees, was riding a scooter in a parking area on the 1100 North block of North Field Road at about 8:20 a.m. He was headed to a bus stop when Cedar City police said a woman driving an SUV was backing out of a parking space and struck the child.
Nathan was initially taken to Cedar City Hospital, then later flown to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he remains.
Andrew Leavitt, the boy's uncle, told KSL that doctors had been working to get the swelling to go down on Nathan's brain from the accident.
"They've been working for the last couple days to just get him stable enough to do all the testing they need to do," he said.
Nathan suffered significant injuries, including head trauma, from the accident, according to Cedar City Police Sgt. Kirk Lovell. First responders had to extricate him from under the vehicle and began rendering lifesaving measures, including CPR, before he was taken to the hospital.
Doctors performed an MRI on Nathan on Wednesday, and the results revealed that the brain injuries he sustained "are irrecoverable."
Doctors said the injuries he suffered are impacting every part of his body — from cognition to basic reflexes, including his ability to see, hear, move and eat.
"This is a reality no family should ever have to face, and we are devastated," Leavitt told KSL Thursday morning.
Nathan's family will be transitioning him to comfort care and allowing him to pass peacefully.
"Before that, we have chosen to give Nathan the opportunity to be a hero by donating his organs to help other children in need. We believe this is something he would have wanted — to bring light and hope to others even in this unimaginable moment. While this is a tragic ending to one story, we find some peace in knowing it can become a new beginning for many others through his gift," Leavitt said in a statement on behalf of the family.
Leavitt described his nephew as an energetic boy who loves Transformers and can easily make friends.
"He's a bundle of energy, like he's just a light in any room that he's in," he told KSL.
Leavitt said that Nathan's family was already dealing with financial stress, so he and his wife, Carrie, started a GoFundMe* to help ease the burden on the Rees family, as it'll likely be a long road to recovery.
"Anytime a parent has to face something like this, it's a devastating blow, and we just want to help lessen that blow for them," he said.
Nathan will remain at Primary Children's Hospital for now, as the family begins the transition process.
"In the end, Nathan is a superhero — our superhero — and his legacy of love and light will live on in the lives he helps save," Leavitt said.
The family said they're grateful for the outpouring of support they've received and all of the responders and medical professionals who have cared for Nathan during this time.
"Please continue to keep our family, as well as the driver, in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time," Leavitt said.
Cedar City police said the incident remains under investigation.
KSL reached out to the department for an update on Wednesday, but did not get an immediate response.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
