Update: One Month Since Accident, Rutgers Student From Homdel Out of Coma, in Rehab

Timothy McDonnell, the 20-year-old Rutgers student from Holmdel, is out of a coma state and moved on to a rehabilitation center, his family announced on their Prayers for Timmy McDonnell Facebook page on October 30.

According to the update, McDonnell was transferred by ambulance to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange on the afternoon of October 29, almost one month after he was struck by a car while walking in New Brunswick.

On October 4, at approximately 2:16 a.m., the Rutgers junior was crossing Easton Avenue when he was struck by a 2007 Audi, driven by 30-year-old Somerset resident Michael Schenck, causing severe head and other critical injuries. Schenck was uninjured in the accident, and has not been charged. Police are continuing to investigate the accident, according to New Brunswick Police Officer Patrick Buckelew. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information regarding the case is urged to call Officer Buckelew at 732-745-5200.

Four weeks after being placed in a medically-induced coma at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the McDonnell family posted to Facebook that doctors had informed them Timmy is considered out of a coma, from a clinical standpoint.

“His eyes are open and he is moving his left foot and hand,” the update said. “He has a long way to go, so please keep praying and sending positive thoughts. We are halfway to a miracle.”

“Fight, Timmy, fight!”

The residents of Homdel have resoundingly answered the McDonnell family’s calls for prayers over the last month, and Timmy’s cousin Katie writes to Patch that the support from the Holmdel community “has been amazing”. Holmdel High School had several signs up after the accident, including the “Fight, Timmy, fight!” slogan that has been the family’s mantra during the former Holmdel High School athlete’s battle for recovery.

Timmy’s brother Matt, a 17-year-old student and football player at the high school, has been joined by the entire team in support of his brother, a former player. Matt wore his brother’s former jersey during the team’s match against Spotwood, which became their first win of the season and one which the team says they took in honor of Timothy. The team also showed that the former player was in the hearts and minds of all during the first week in October following the accident, by wearing his initials, “TM” on their helmets during their winning match.

The McDonnell family has also received support from several local sports teams, including the Monmouth University Basketball team, several fraternities and sororities at Rutgers, and according to Katie, a church service held at St. Catharine’s in Holmdel on October 23 that was “packed” with residents and community members.

Support for the family is well-deserved, as they are known locally for their charitable work throughout the Holmdel community. A former charity founded by Timmy’s father, Tim McDonnell, called My Three Sons, was started after a close family friend lost his life to cancer, leaving behind three young children. Tim McDonnell was also diagnosed with cancer in 2012, but has successfully undergone treatment and is currently in remission.

Patch will continue to provide updates about Timmy’s condition, as they are made available.

To leave a message for Timmy and his family, visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/PrayersForTimmyMcDonnell