Chesco man won’t give up after horrific accident
Horrific accident left him a quadriplegic, but West Caln man feels blessed to be loved
WEST CALN » All Jeremiah Wilson wants is reliable transportation that get him to his doctor’s appointments.
Wilson, who lives in West Caln, was injured last June in a horrific car accident that left him a quadriplegic. He fell asleep at the wheel while driving to visit his girlfriend, who lives more than two hours away. Rescue workers from several fire companies stabilized his van. Dozens of first responders carefully extricated him and transferred him to a helicopter that flew him to a nearby trauma hospital. Upon seeing the mangled mess of the van, the employees at the tow yard said that they’d never seen a wreck that bad in which the driver was still alive.
“He has broken the rules for survival,” said Jeremiah’s mother, Kathi Williams Wilson, a 1978 graduate of Marple Newtown High School. “But he is a spiritual person and he believes God will heal him.”
Right now, Wilson gets around in an older, unreliable vehicle in which he cannot drive. A community fundraiser has been set for April 18 in Lancaster to help raise funds for a wheelchair-accessible van. The goal is to raise $5,000 toward the cost of the van.
“It will make it easier for me to get to appointments,” Jeremiah said. “It will help me to have a better life.”
Right now, Wilson bides his time by reading, painting, writing, and going to appointments. He lives in an apartment up the street from his mother and stepfather.
He said he isn’t bitter with the hand he has been dealt and feels blessed to be loved not only by his girlfriend, but by friends and family.
“I want to encourage people to live life to the fullest,” he said. “I don’t like being a quadriplegic, but I enjoy life, and am never going to give up.”
Before the accident, Jeremiah installed doors for Main Line Doors, and before that ironically, was a caretaker for a person who is quadriplegic.
Jeremiah feels blessed to have a special relationship with his girlfriend, whom he met about a month before the accident.
“There is an incredible chemistry between those two,” said Kathi. “I think they will end up together. She doesn’t care whether or not he will walk, they have an uncommon bond.”
Kathi said she is humbled at how caring the community is to offer a fundraiser for her son.
“Jeremiah is usually the one offering help,” she said. “Since the accident, he has maintained an optimistic and grateful
“I want to encourage people to live life to the fullest. I don’t like being a quadriplegic, but I enjoy life, and am never going to give up.”
— Jeremiah Wilson, who was injured last June in a horrific car accident that left him a quadriplegic
outlook. He has proven himself to be much more than a survivor. He feels blessed to have the love and support of so many friends and family members.”
The fundraiser will take place on Sunday, April 18, at a benefit concert at Tellus360, 24 E. King Street in Lancaster from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be live music, a silent auction, raffles, and more to benefit the nonprofit Help Hope Live in honor of Jeremiah Wilson. Free virtual viewing options are also available.
Register now for $20 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ jeremiahs-journey-benefitconcert-tickets-148670474391.
Your registration will be managed by the nonprofit as a donation in Jeremiah’s honor. Virtual registrants can register for free at: https://events. helphopelive.org/event/5346/ signup/.
The concert will include a diverse group of artists including: Hadassah Wilson, Pushin Time, Nick Cove and the Wandering, Liz Fulmer, Leo Distanto and Tuck Ryan.
The silent auction will feature original art by Jeremiah Wilson himself, as well as art by Shelia Braun, and a gourmet meal cooked in your home by Chef Bri. Purchase raffle tickets to win prizes including a hotel stay, jewelry, gourmet chocolate, and a restaurant gift basket. Raffles are open to both in-person and virtual attendees — indicate your preference when you purchase tickets on the event site, or be surprised by what you win. Purchase raffle tickets here: https://events. helphopelive.org/event/5346/ signup/. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on-site for in-person attendees.
Can’t attend the concert? You can make a donation in honor of Jeremiah Wilson at any time at https://helphopelive.org/campaign/17870. Donations are tax deductible.