Following the tragic accident of Point Loma Nazarene University student, Dakota Briley, an auction with over 300 items, including hotel stays to surfboards signed by professional surfers, is live through Monday, Sept. 15, to raise money for his rehabilitation funds.
Nearly three months ago, Briley was hit by an 18-year-old driver while on the side of the road in Haleiwa, HI. Crushed between two cars, Briley’s spine, skull and lower body were critically injured.
After spending 58 days in the Queens Medical Center in downtown Honolulu, mostly in a coma, Briley was transferred to Craig Hospital in Colorado, where they believe his rehabilitation needs will be better met, said Erin Lau, his sister.
Since the accident, Briley has awakened from his coma, undergone 11 surgeries, can hold conversations, and, as of last week, has some movement in his left arm. Lau said Briley’s long-term memory is still intact, but he doesn’t seem to remember the months leading up to the accident.
“He’s made some really big steps, but he’s got a long journey ahead of him,” Lau said. “A lot of the surf community and Hawaii community has really come together to just pour love onto him and our family.”
He is undergoing a series of therapies, including speech, physical and occupational therapy. Lau also said he’s had many opportunities to socialize and build community.
“For him to be awake, making jokes, laughing, crying, expressing his opinion, asking questions, is incredible from where we’ve come from,” Lau said.
Briley was supposed to start his third year at PLNU, majoring in business.
While Lau said Briley isn’t ready to be interviewed yet, he did pass along a message to share with PLNU:
“I appreciate all the love and don’t worry – God has got me, and thank you for all your support,” he said.
Lau asks the PLNU community to continue to pray for and send good energy to Briley because she has seen it work.
“We believe that it can do so much for him,” she said. “It already has done so much for him, and I know that it means a lot to him, too.”
PLNU President Kerry Fulcher said the university has been in close contact with Briley’s family throughout his recovery. He sent a campus-wide email over the summer at the time of his accident, asking the community for prayer.
“We are grateful for the progress that Dakota has made, but know there is still a long journey ahead for him,” Fulcher said in an email interview. “We encourage the community to continue lifting Dakota and the family in prayer and to support them financially as able.”
A few friends from PLNU are visiting Briley over fall break, from Oct. 23-24, in Colorado. He has also said that when he recovers, he wants to return to PLNU, according to Lau.
“After months of uncertainty, we get to celebrate answered prayers and see Dakota and talk to him, which we are really excited about,” said Riley Wagner, a third-year psychology major, who is a part of the group to visit him.
Briley has been able to attend church services on Sundays at Craig Hospital, which has become the highlight of his week, Lau said.
“We could never have imagined how much people – how much generosity there would be,” Lau said. “We’re constantly adding new stuff [to the auction] every day because everybody just wants to support Dakota.”
Click here to donate money to Briley’s GoFundMe, or visit the live auction here.
Angelica Moser