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ST. GEORGE — A missionary from St. George is now in a rehabilitation hospital after getting hit by a car two-and-a-half months ago.
Creed Leonard, 20, was walking across a street with his mission companion the night of Nov. 30 in Boston, Massachusetts, when the two were hit.
"It's kind of like one of those worst nightmare scenarios," said Chad Waggoner, Leonard's father.
He said the details of the situation are unclear, and the accident still under investigation.
"They were actually crossing the road to meet up with someone that was going to give them a ride to a lesson that they were teaching that night," Waggoner explained.
Leonard's companion broke several bones but is recovering at home. Leonard has been at a Boston hospital since the collision caused a traumatic brain injury.
"It encompasses speech, language and personality. Most of all of that he's going to have to relearn," Waggoner said.
Leonard had finished his first year at Brigham Young University six months earlier and was serving a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston.
"He's still in what they call a mid-conscious state," Waggoner said. "So he's waking up, but he still is not completely responsive."
Leonard's making progress. He was recently transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Boston, where he's expected to be for the next five to eight weeks.
He's still in what they call a mid-conscious state. So he's waking up, but he still is not completely responsive.
–Chad Waggoner
As the expenses rack up, people can now donate through GoFundMe*.
Waggoner has visited the hospital on the other side of the country as much as he can, while his wife has rented an apartment near the hospital to be close to her son.
"She's been by his side," Waggoner said. "If you can imagine this, he was injured – it was a couple of months ago – and she's been at the hospital for every waking visitors hours that there is since his accident."
Leonard's recovery could take years.
"A mother's love is important in this healing process," he added.
The family is updating people through the Messages for Creed Facebook page, which has more than 2,000 followers.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
