Community rallies support for child, family
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ARLEE – A caring community of more than 300 people showed up to support a fundraiser July 18 in Arlee for Tyler Conover, 4, who lost his foot to a lawnmower accident earlier this month.
“He was running around and he slipped and his foot went under a riding lawnmower,” said Amanda Adams, a family friend. “It was a tragic accident.”
Adams said Tyler was playing in the yard at his home on a warm Saturday morning one minute and the next he was being rushed to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. From there he was flown to Seattle’s Harborview trauma hospital in a helicopter. Tyler needed numerous surgeries over the next several days.
“They had to amputate mid-calf,” Adams said, yet Tyler recovered quickly in the hospital. “He was up and hopping around with a little assistance.”
He was doing so well that he was sent home last week after almost two weeks in the hospital.
“He came home Thursday night,” she said. “They got him a wheelchair so he won’t have to be carried. Down the road he’ll be fitted for a prosthesis.”
Parents Jerry Conover and Liz Biebinger are trying to find a new routine after the accident.
“It’s a big change emotionally, but they are doing what they need to do,” Adams said. “Liz unfortunately won’t be going back to work for a while.”
Tyler is home but his time with doctors isn’t over.
“He will need to go back to Spokane for a check-up once a week,” Adams said. “That is why we did a fundraiser. The loss of one income and weekly trips to Spokane will make it tough on the family.”
More than 300 people attended a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in the Brown Building last Wednesday to help the family.
“The outpouring of support from this community is overwhelming,” Adams said.
Community member Susan Black attended the fundraiser.
“When we have something like this happen in the community, we come out to help,” she said.
Tyler’s friends were also at the fundraiser. Bridger Adams, 5, was making plans for his friend’s return.
“We can play dinosaurs,” he said.
Donations to the family can be made at Valley Bank under Liz Biebinger or mailed to Amanda Adams at P.O. Box 170, Arlee, MT 59821. Get well wishes can also be sent.
