Kelowna man who nearly died in Highway 1 crash slowly recovering
Four months after a fatal vehicle crash that claimed his brother’s life, Collin Morrison is feeling overwhelmed by the community support he’s received during his recovery.
Collin and his older brother Scott were driving to the Okanagan from Calgary along the Trans-Canada Highway when a cube van lost control and hit their vehicle last February near Field. Scott died at the scene and Morrison was airlifted to a hospital in Calgary where he spent two weeks in intensive care.
He suffered from a broken neck, multiple breaks in his legs, blood vessel damage and internal bleeding.
READ MORE: Kelowna man in critical condition after crash on Trans-Canada near Field
Collin has no recollection of the accident but believes he’s here today because his older brother was watching out for him. For the last month, he’s been recovering from his injuries at Cottonwoods Care Home in Kelowna and will see himself as fully recovered when he’s able to walk on his own two feet again.
“I finally came to terms with OK, this is where I am and I have to deal with this as best as I can. I just take it one day at a time,” he said.
Stanley Schibler, a YMCA lifeguard where Collin worked as a custodian and volunteer, is organizing another fundraiser for the Morrisons, who have been going through tough times. The YMCA of Okanagan raised more than $20,000 for the family shortly after the accident occurred through a GoFundMe. Collin’s dad also has dementia.
“They’re letting my body slow down on its own, and heal,” Collin said, while in the care home.
His mother Madeline Morrison said some of the funds have been used to purchase new clothing for Collin who needed button-up shirts with his neck brace but how the rest will be used depends on Collin’s needs and recovery.
They plan to return to the YMCA in Rutland as soon as he’s able to continue his rehabilitation process, Madeline said. Since the accident, he’s gone from being bedridden to moving using a wheelchair but the next steps are anyone’s guess. Last month, more than 30 people showed up and celebrated his 48th birthday.
“They came for the cake,” Madeline laughed.
Collin doesn’t like to sit still, he said. In the next five weeks, he will be assessed to see if he can leave the care home. He's thankful for the community support.
“It brings tears to my eyes, I just don’t think I realized how many people are going for me out there,” he said.
He’s made a few friends at Cottonwoods, including one who has dementia and the pair have been able to relate to and support one another.
“It’s just mom losing a son and me losing a dad, it’s just too much,” he said.
“We've still got each other and we have still have things to do, he got a paddleboard for Christmas,” Madeline said.
A fundraiser called The Morrison Wallet Open Fundraiser organized by Schibler and other YMCA members will be held Sunday, July 17 at 10:30 a.m. The tournament cost is $188.50 or $40 for dinner at the Michaelbrook Golf Course on Lexington Drive. For every ticket purchased, $100 will be donated to the Morrisons to assist with recovery efforts.
“I thank my brother all the time, I think he died and moved over to my side and looked after me, that’s why I’m still here. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be six feet under,” Collin said.
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