Helping Nick: Community Rallies for Boy Struck by Truck

At first glance you might not notice that Nick Tsiskakis' head was recently stapled together after multiple brain surgeries. A fan of music with a love for riding his bike, the 13-year-old's life was forever changed on while on his way to school.

The student has since been taking physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy as well as psychological counseling.

He hasn't been to school since the accident, though teachers are a common sight at the Tsiskakis' Goffle Road house.

"He appears normal. It's very hard to see it . . . until you talk to his teachers and then you see what's going on," said his father, John.

Described as vivacious, entertaining and upbeat, Nick still has trouble with everyday tasks like putting on his clothes. His short-term memory has been impacted by the accident and he's suffered hearing loss in his left ear and has no feeling in one of his feet.

"We're hoping it will improve with time," his father said of his son's physical challenges. "Nick has been on the road to recovery since the accident. He's been improving steadily, slowly."

Emotionally, the family has been through more than most could bear. Despite the challenges, John says the family isn't buckling. "We do what we have to do. It has to be done," he commented.

And the financial toll too has been staggering.

The insurance for the landscaping truck only covered $250,000, John explained, and although the Tsiskakis family has personal health insurance, the bills are immense.

"Right now I have over $400,000 worth of bills," John said by phone Sunday, adding that one of the brain surgery bills still has yet to arrive.

The Tsiskakis family is not alone in supporting Nick in his battle.

On Monday, students in grades 3-12 will be shooting hoops at to raise money for his therapy and surgery costs.

"A couple years ago we did the ," explained Gretchen Nelson, one of the organizers of "In the Net for Nick" at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. "We were just talking about it as a congregation as to how we can reach out to a family in the community that could use support at this time. And then we were praying, thinking about it when unfortunately, the accident with Nick happened."

A day before the event, the church had already raised about $3,000 for the 13-year-old and his family.

"All I'm really hoping . . . is that the community really come[s] together," Nelson told Patch. "I think in this world we're living in now with the internet, everything is international, we need to bring it a little closer to home and to realize that our neighbors are going through a difficult time."

It's a gesture and effort the Tsiskakis family has found overwhelming.

"We didn't expect all this. It came as a surprise," John said. "The support has been amazing. The whole community –everybody – has done everything they can do from helping us with Nick's brother, to coming to the hospital. And with the fundraiser – it's been amazing."

Facing immense hardship, the Tsiskakis family has asked little of the community, but received much.

"Mariel [Nick's mother], the only thing she's asked us to do is pray," Nelson said. "Certainly I can do that. Our expectations [for In the Net for Nick] are starting at zero; whatever they get I know they'll appreciate."

Nelson continued, "I think we need to come together more as a community...doing something like this brings people to one spot. That's really where our congregation is working – just to bring the community here and us to go out there to help as well. We have to come together."

The free-throw shooting contest fundraiser – for grades 3-12 – runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Gym. Registration is required. Send an e-mail to Gretchen Nelson (gen829@gmail.com; or call her at 201-803-8781) with your child's grade, school, phone number, estimated time of arrival and make sure to write 'In the Net for Nick' in the subject line.

Use the In the Net for Nick sponsor form to request sponsor donations; shoot your free-throws, make as many as you can and collect your sponsor donations. Mail it to the In the Net for Nick address on the sponsor form.

If you can't participate but would like to donate, Make your check payable to: “Nick Tsiskakis” and mail to In The Net For Nick, c/o BELC, 155 Linwood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ  07450.