Firefighter`s son needs help
In June 1994, 16-year-old Billy Hungerford, the son of retired West Palm Beach Firefighter Ronald Hungerford, lost control of his car on a two-lane suburban street and hit a guardrail at relatively low speed. A 20-foot piece of pipe from the guardrail pierced the car`s grill; went through the firewall and dashboard, Hungerford`s upper left abdomen, the driver`s seat, the back seat, and the trunk; and was protruding 10 feet out the back of the trunk. After he was extricated by members from the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the town of Green Acres Public Safety, he was flown to Delray Community Hospital Trauma Center. After several days of complex surgery and 54 days in the hospital, Hungerford was released. However, he lost his left kidney; part of his colon, pancreas, and large bowel; and his small bowel. He is fed intravenously 18 hours a day and will be for life unless he gets a bowel transplant–a $200,000 procedure.
This was a freak accident that occurred in the middle of the afternoon–no alcohol or drugs were involved. The medical bills have surpassed the limits of the family`s insurance money. Thus, to assist with current and future medical bills, a trust fund has been established. Contributions can be made to the “Billy Hungerford Medical Emergency Fund,” Great Southern Bank, P.O. Box 3305, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-3305.
For more information, contact Randy Mosher or Lawrence W. Doelling, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Station 31-C, Special Operations, 3439 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth, FL 33461, (407) 965-1872.
