Owen Co. High School supports local teenagers and their recovery

OWENTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – A fundraiser is being held in Owen County to help a 13-year-old and 19-year-old who suffered serious injuries in two separate accidents over the summer.

As you walk the halls of Owen County High School, you will see posters of 13-year-old Carter Patton, a student at Maurice Bowling Middle School, and 19-year-old Leyla Hernandez, a graduate of Owen County High School.

“We spent 51 days at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital,” explained Stanley Patton, Carter’s father. “I would say those days were 30 days in intensive care.”

On July 2, Carter suffered a life-changing head injury when he fell from an ATV for 4 hours during a park cleanup.

“Today is his third full day of high school and he will be back full-time in January,” Patton said.

On August 19, Leyla was in a life-changing car accident.

“Very independent. Very outgoing. Very sweet. Six days after her 19th birthday, she was in a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury and a couple of strokes,” said Leyla’s father, Justin Combs.

She is still in hospital for rehabilitation.

“She is doing well. She has made a lot of progress and we are very excited that she will be able to come home soon,” Combs said.

Ed Crutchleo is the FBLA counselor at Owen County High School. When he heard what both families were going through, he wanted to help. On Saturday, November 23, the FBLA Club will team up with Generation Next Pro Wrestling for a match, with all proceeds going to both families.

“For me, being a student is more than just the grades, more than just being in school,” Crutchleo said. “It’s basically, what can we do for you out here and when we heard what was going on, I talked to some of my friends who are professional wrestlers and they were like guys, what can we do?”

The goal is to pack the gym at Owen County High School to not only raise money, but also show support for Carter, Leyla and their families.

“It helps a lot. My wife is out of work. She lives with my daughter in the hospital to take care of her 24/7. She has been an LPN for years. It lightens the load a little and helps us all stay together .Spend more time together,” says Combs.

If you would like to show your support or purchase a ticket, just show up GenNext Presents: NEVER SAY DIE! | Buy tickets in Owenton | Ticketbud

Crutchleo says that when they sell 300 tickets, he plans to have his head shaved during the event. He hopes this will give the community, and especially his students, extra impetus to buy a ticket and share the event with others.