Injured teen Makai Lloren’s progress is encouraging and so is the ongoing fundraising
Makai Lloren, the Clovis middle-schooler who suffered a broken neck two months ago, is back home.
Makai spent time at Valley Children’s Hospital recovering after injuries to his C6 and C7 vertebrae. Makai was injured at Defy Clovis after trying a double front flip and landing on his neck.
Lloren has been back at Alta Sierra Intermediate School for three weeks, said his father, Durbin Lloren.
“He’s doing half-days right now,” said Lloren, adding that an aide is with Makai all the time at school “just to keep him safe. He’s been a trouper and we take it day by day now.”
The family is getting help covering medical costs from fundraisers including one Sunday at Dr. Jennifer Henrique’s Wellness Center, 200 W. Bullard Ave. Suite E-4. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. the center is offering massages for a donation, suggested minimum $1 per minute.
The goal is to raise $10,000. Durbin Lloren said the past fundraisers have brought in close to $50,000.
“It gives you a lot of hope in humanity of how people come together,” Lloren said. “It’s going to help our family and other families because we’ve been given so much help. When we get so much help, it makes you want to return that favor to people going through some hard times, too.”
Earlier, Makai’s cousin, McCarthy Ellis, established a Go Fund Me account to raise enough money to buy “Kai Kai” his first motorized wheelchair. That account has generated nearly $22,000 in pledges toward a $50,000 goal.
On Tuesday, $12,000 was raised at the Helping One Woman event honoring Makai’s mother, Jennifer Lloren, at The Point Patio Bar & Bistro. That money will go toward equipment that is not covered by insurance.
Durbin Lloren said he’s encouraged to see continued improvement for his son, but there is a long road that continues for the family.
“Everyday he’s getting a little bit better,” he said.
This story was originally published March 28, 2019 at 2:30 PM.
