Help Needed for a Friend/Neighbor

[Dundermifflinite]

Former Wichita State Shocker Carl Hall is one of the most thoughtful and kind people I have ever met throughout my life. We have worked for the same company for just over 10 years. He was laid off on the 15th of June. Unfortunately for him, that would soon be the least of his worries. The 1994 MVC Player-of-the-Year and 1993 CWS alum could really use some assistance right now, and I figured no better place to ask than here. The story follows...

 

 

Circle of support grows for ex-Shocker Carl Hall, injured in crash

 

A fund has been established on behalf of former Shocker baseball player Carl Hall, who was paralyzed in a weekend automobile accident. Donations may be sent to:

 

The Carl Hall Family Benefit Fund

c/o Intrust Bank

105 N. Main Street

Wichita, KS 67202

 

Friends and teammates of Carl Hall are rallying support for the former Wichita State University baseball star, who is paralyzed from the neck down after a weekend crash in Kingman County.

 

Hall, 39, remains in critical condition at Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis after undergoing neck and spinal cord surgery on Sunday.

"It was badly damaged, but it was not severed," said Hall's brother, Gary. "He's got some feeling in his upper chest area for sure.

"It's day-to-day. It's really early."

 

Carl Hall, who starred on some of the strongest Shocker baseball teams in school history and was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1994, was a passenger in the family Suburban heading to a youth sports tournament in Norwich on Saturday morning, his brothers said.

 

His 15-year-old daughter was driving with the cruise control on, other passengers in the vehicle told Gary Hall. When she touched the brakes to disengage the cruise, the engine accelerated instead and she lost control.

 

The Suburban overturned about five miles west of Norwich on K-42, landing hard and crumpling the roof on the front passenger side.

 

Kingman County Sheriff Randy Hill said the crash remains under investigation. Authorities plan to closely inspect the Suburban, he said.

The crash occurred four days after Carl Hall was laid off as a pharmaceutical sales representative as part of a companywide downsizing.

"We're in the process of trying to figure out what benefits are available and what aren't," Gary Hall said.

 

Meanwhile, Carl Hall's Shocker, church and school families are rallying to his aid.

A youth baseball tournament will be held in Derby on July 17. The event will include a barbecue and auction of sports memorabilia, Gary Hall said.

A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m. today at St. Peter Catholic Church in Schulte, the Hall family's home parish.

 

Bishop Carroll High School president Leticia Nielsen said school administrators are monitoring the situation and will look for ways to provide long-term support for Carl Hall and his family. His oldest daughter will be a sophomore at the school this fall.

"We're going to wait... and see what their needs are," Nielsen said.

 

Shocker players who played with Hall are trying to collect sports memorabilia that could be auctioned off to raise money for the family.

"I don't know if anybody understands how great he was," Gary Hall said of his brother, who also earned All-America honors his senior year.

 

Over the past few days, he said, a steady stream of visitors have come to visit — and tell stories.

"There are people from 20 years ago that say, 'Hey, I think about him every week,' " Gary Hall said.

"There are literally hundreds of people doing that. He's just as good a guy as you're ever going to find."

 

The Hall family is grateful for even the smallest signs of improvement, Gary Hall said.

His brother's spirits are remarkably good, Gary Hall said. Having feeling in his chest means a lot to his brother.

"... Even if he can't wrap his arms around his kids, they can put their head on his chest and he'd know they're there," Gary Hall said.

Article

 

 

Please keep the Hall family in your thoughts and prayers.

[Nexus]

I'm sorry to hear this news. In situations like these keeping an optimistic outlook on life is half the battle. His life changed suddenly and dramatically. I wish him and his family well during these trying times.

 

Keep your head up, Carl.

[suh_fan93]

That is very sad news. I knew nothing of Carl Hall until I read that story but he sounds like a great person. My prayers go out to him and his entire family.

 

Found some pictures of Carl and his family and a few of him from back in his playing days also.

 

http://www.kansas.co.../carl-hall.html

[T_O_Bull]

My prayers go out to this young man and his family. My company provides in home care for several quadraplegics and it can be a hard life but most of them are incredibly positive about their life.

T_O_B

[HUSKER 37]

Sounds like a great guy, Dunder.

 

I really feel for his daughter and the rest of the family.

[Dundermifflinite]

That is very sad news. I knew nothing of Carl Hall until I read that story but he sounds like a great person. My prayers go out to him and his entire family.

 

Found some pictures of Carl and his family and a few of him from back in his playing days also.

 

http://www.kansas.co.../carl-hall.html

 

 

Those are awesome....My favorite is Carl knocked out after running into a fence. It sums up everything he is about. Sell out. Sacrifice yourself for the team. I'm willing to bet my left kidney that he caught the ball.

 

Thanks.

[Blackshirt]

Thanks for sharing Dunder, and sorry to hear about your friend. He sounds like a great person. I sent a little donation his way. Thoughts & prayers for Carl & family.

[Dundermifflinite]

link