‘He’ll come back stronger, he’s a good kid’: Frontier community rallies around HS athlete injured in biking accident
HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Frontier Central School District community is rallying around a rising high school athlete who is in the hospital recovering from a bike accident.
Student athlete Christian Spicer was set to start his freshman year at Frontier High School as the quarterback on the junior varsity team before a biking accident sent him to the hospital.
According to Christian’s mother, Kelly, he was riding his bike last week in Hamburg when the chain on his bike popped off and he fell, hitting his head.
He was shaken, but got up and went home. His mom, who’s a nurse, took one look at him and drove him to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Christian needed emergency brain surgery.
“After he came out of surgery he said, ‘When am I going to go back to football?'” said Joe Fasciana, Frontier High School’s head varsity football coach. “That’s the kind of kid he is. I imagine if there’s anyone in the world who’s going to overcome something like this to play what he wants to do, it’s Christian Spicer.”
Christian grew up playing football and lacrosse. His coaches describe him as being a leader, a go-getter and always striving to be a better athlete, teammate and student.
“He’s the kid who works the hardest, everybody knows him. He wants to be the best,” said Mike Nirelli, Frontier High School’s head varsity lacrosse coach.
Since Wednesday’s accident, the community has been raising money for the Spicer family to help them with meals and anything else they may need as Christian recovers.
“We’re here, we’re going to support him 100 percent, we hope to see him back out here and we hope to see him working toward whatever goal he sets for himself,” Fasciana said.
“He’ll come back stronger,” Nirelli said. “He’s a good kid. He’s got a good heart. He’s got somewhere that he wants to be and he’ll lead himself in that direction full strength. Hopefully for a full recovery soon. Sooner than later.”
“We truly do live in the city of good neighbors. The constant outpouring love and support from our family, friends and the Frontier community has been humbling to say the least. We truly do not have the words to express our deepest gratitude for the love and support shown by our community and the medical team/neurosurgeons at children’s hospital. Thank you for loving our son. Thank you for continuing to pray fiercely. Thank you for ‘showing up’ Frontier Strong!” Kelly Spicer said in a statement to WIVB News 4.
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Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
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