PLAINVIEW, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — A Long Island community is rallying around a 21-year-old college student who was left a quadriplegic after a ski accident.
Jessica Scheibel says her best friend, Rebecca Koltun, is her favorite person, noting that the two have known each other since fifth grade.
“She is one of the most athletic, fun, talkative, outgoing people you'll ever meet. She is my favorite person just to go to the beach to, to go to the movies to, to do any basic activity with, she's always ready to do something,” Scheibel said.
But everything changed in March, when 21-year-old Koltun, of Plainview, was in a skiing accident in Vermont and was left paralyzed from the neck down.
Koltun is currently in rehab in Boston, where she is making progress, Scheibel says.
“She's able to mouth words to me, so communication is there and she’s able to give me some updates on her day-to-day status,” Scheibel said.
The friend of the college student says things are getting better for Koltun, and she is able to eat solid food again.
“They just updated us that she was able to eat and drink food for the first time since the accident, which is great. That's one of life's simple pleasures I'm really glad she was able to that,” Scheibel said.
However, the treatment for Koltun, who was in pre-med courses before the accident, is costly and to help pay for it, Scheibel has been asking the community for donations. So far, she says they have raised nearly $500,000 thanks to the “Help Hope Live” website.
In Plainview, the owners of Family Bagels and Pete the Greek restaurants have also set up fundraisers to help the family financially.
Scheibel says it is a huge help for her friend, whom she misses very much.
“I miss just being on the phone with her and rambling about what happened to my day and what happened in her day,” she tells WCBS 880.
To help donate to Koltun and her family, visit HelpHopeLive.org.
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