GoFundMe Set Up for Billings Boy Hurt Near Will James Middle

When I picked my son up from youth group last night, he immediately began telling me about the little boy who was hit in a crash near Will James Middle School in Billings yesterday.

He told me that he and his friends had prayed for him.

That simple conversation has stayed with me. This is such a tragic accident, and it has hit our community hard. My heart hurts for this little boy and for everyone who loves him.

As a mom, I can't begin to imagine getting a phone call like this. One minute, your child is going about an ordinary day. The next, everything changes.

Billings Crash Victim Chase Faces Life-Changing Injuries

As we previously reported, a child was struck while crossing Grand Avenue near Will James Middle School on Thursday. A report on the crash shared that the child was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Now, a friend of the boy's mother, Mariya, has shared an update identifying him as Chase and asking the community to continue praying for him and his family.

According to Bobbie Barsness' update, Chase has suffered a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed, a broken femur, injuries to his pelvis and tailbone, and a serious injury where his skull and spine connect.

Barsness wrote that Chase is responding with his eyes, but doctors are not seeing responses from his neck down. She said his heart is beating on its own, but he currently has a breathing tube and is not breathing independently.

Chase also suffered serious injuries to his head, face, and left hand. His family was told that his injuries are life-changing, and the next 72 hours are especially important.

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Chase Transferred to Denver for Specialized Care

Chase has already undergone surgery and was transferred to Denver for specialized care, according to the family's fundraiser. The GoFundMe was created to help Mariya stay by her son's side as the family faces travel, lodging, meals, lost wages, medical expenses, and the unknowns ahead.

There is no way to make a situation like this less heartbreaking. But Billings is showing up in the ways that matter. People are praying, sharing the fundraiser, and checking in on this family.

If you're able, you can donate to help Chase's family. If you can't donate, sharing the fundraiser and keeping Chase, Mariya, and their family in your prayers can make a difference too.

Keep fighting, Chase. You have an entire community behind you.