Hamilton man faces long road to recovery after cycling accident
Will Jones was out for a morning bike ride when his life took a dramatic turn in a matter of seconds.
The 31-year-old Hamilton man was riding with a friend down a steep hill leading to the parking lot of Bayfront Park on June 7 when he lost control and was sent airborne over the handlebars, landing headfirst. Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing a helmet and sustained a serious brain injury.
His father Stef Jones, who lives in Brockville, Ont., said his heart sunk when he got a call from Hamilton General Hospital at around 5:30 a.m. that morning.
Will underwent a craniotomy to remove a piece of his skull and relieve the pressure on his brain. He was temporarily placed on a ventilator and was still on a feeding tube as of June 12. While there was no bone damage sustained in the fall, Jones said, it remains unclear whether Will's cognitive function will return. He may need to relearn how to read, write, speak and walk.
He's out of critical danger, but it's a long road of recovery," said Jones, who was planning to drive to Hamilton to visit his son on June 13. The left side of his body is weak and he has some cognitive deficiencies and they're not sure if, or when, they will come back."
Jones praised the doctors and staff in the neurosciences unit at the General Hospital, where Will is continuing to receive care. He was relocated from the intensive care unit on June 11.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched with a goal of $75,000 to support Will's ongoing recovery. More than $15,000 had been raised as of June 12.
Jones, who operates The Noshery Restaurant in Brockville, was gearing up for an influx of patio customers when he got the news about Will. The restaurant remains opens while Jones makes arrangements to look after his son.
For now, the GoFundMe campaign is aimed at covering Will's immediate needs, like rent and bills. In the future, Jones said, Will may need physiotherapy and assistive devices to aid his mobility.
In the future, Jones said, Will could move in with the family in Brockville and work at the restaurant, if possible.
Friend Jeremy Waters said Will was riding a fixed-gear bike when the accident occurred. Waters credited Will's friend Anthony Greenwood for calling 911 and bringing first responders to the scene within minutes.
Waters was Will Jones' on-and-off roommate after both men moved from Kingston to Toronto about 10 years ago. Waters said Jones was a talented cocktail bartender, but had more recently been honing his cooking skills at Born and Raised Restaurant, at the corner of James and Robert streets in downtown Hamilton.
In addition to bike riding, Waters said, Jones loves movies, computer games and music. Waters went to visit Jones in the hospital on June 12 and provided a provided a device to help Will access Netflix.
Waters admits he has also frequently gone cycling without a helmet, but will never do so again.
One of the best ways to support him, if you can't donate, is buy a helmet," said Waters.