An Orillia man is recovering from life-threatening injuries after the car he was driving was struck by a large commercial truck at Highway 12 and Forest Avenue last week.
After being T-boned in the collision, 27-year-old Rielly Swailes was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre last Thursday. He suffered a brain bleed, two collapsed lungs, broken ribs, and a tear and blood clot in his aorta.
Swailes, a Twin Lakes Secondary School graduate, is now in an induced coma on a ventilator in the cardiovascular critical care unit at Sunnybrook Hospital. His older sister, Holly Swailes, says her brother is going to survive his wounds barring any further complications.
"He's still on the breathing tube because his lungs aren't back to working," she explained. "They had to put a stint in his heart for the tear."
She says the crash has been traumatic for her whole family.
"It's been devastating," she said. "When we heard he's being airlifted and didn't know the extent of his injuries ... it was terrifying."
When Rielly first arrived at the hospital, it wasn't clear if he was going to live.
"It's still hard because he's still asleep and it doesn’t really feel like he's here," Holly said. "It's really hard to see him in that state."
While the process is slow, Holly says Rielly has improved daily since the collision.
"It's a giant relief," she said. "He's my brother so losing him isn't an option."
While Rielly is recovering in hospital with his parents at his side, Holly is looking after his cat Luna, and his apartment in Orillia.
Through a GoFundMe fundraiser, the Orillia community has raised more than $13,000 for Rielly.
"He has a lot of expenses," Holly said. "It's such a relief to know that I can take care of him, his bills, and his rent with that money so he doesn't have to lose the things he loves."
One of Rielly's "good friends" Cody Burnett has donated $10,000 to the fundraiser. Holly says the donations from the community are "touching."
"I was speechless," Holly said. "He's going to be in the hospital for quite a while, and will then be in rehabilitation for a while, so it's a giant relief for the family to have that support from his friends, family, and co-workers."
Rielly, who works as a Bell technician, plays for the Orillia Majors baseball team. In his spare time, "he's a big gamer," loves Pokémon, and plays golf.
The crash is the latest in a series of difficult times. In January, one of Rielly's uncles and his grandmother passed away.
"It has been a very difficult time for the entire family," Holly said.
Holly is hoping the GoFundMe will raise $20,000 for her little brother. She thanks everybody who has already donated.
"We don't know what his medical expenses will be in the future," she said. "My biggest goal is to keep his apartment so he has a nice place to come back to."
