Community asked to help victim

by Jason Baird

The phrase, “Adding insult to injury,” comes to mind in James Williams’ situation.

With no health insurance, the 23-year-old Mount Pleasant man struggles to afford physical rehabilitation and medical bills reaching $200,000 resulting from an attack.

Williams suffered numerous injuries from a New Year’s Day beating outside O’Kelly’s Sports Bar and Grill. He arrived at Mount Pleasant’s Central Michigan Hospital in “extremely critical condition,” according to attending emergency room physician Leslie Starnes.

To help with mounting bills, the Williams family is organizing a benefit fundraiser scheduled for February 23rd at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s Parish Hall, 302 S. Kinney Ave at 5 p.m. Items donated by local businesses will be auctioned off during live and silent auctions.

Tia Williams, James’ sister, said raffle items include Detroit Tigers tickets, plasma screen TV’s, refrigerators and hotel packages.

Dinner is served from 5-7:30 p.m. with the auctions immediately following. Door prizes, raffle drawings, and fifty-fifty will help to raise money.

Donations will hopefully ease the burden on Williams so he can focus on making a full recovery.

Williams has been undergoing a physical therapy regimen at Central Michigan University's Health Professions Building. However, rehabilitation help the university is able to offer is limited.

The family is seeking out other local rehabilitation centers.

"We've had some medical tests that show he'll need extensive physical therapy,” said Jim Williams, father of James.

Doctors told Jim Williams that it is difficult to gauge how long James’ recovery will take.

“They said anywhere from a month to a year. He has extensive nerve damage in his arms,” Jim Williams said.

Contact Tia Williams for donations or more information at (989) 330-7323