Hallam community coming together after lawnmowing ‘freak accident’ injures 4-year-old

HALLAM, Neb. (KLKN) — On May 10, tragedy struck as 4-year-old Percy Vasquez lost his leg in a lawnmowing accident.

Percy was taken to Bryan West hospital in Lincoln before being transferred to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

He had his right leg amputated and also needed surgery on his left heel.

Percy’s grandmothers, Angie Vasquez and JoBeth Taylor, said it was a very shocking experience.

“It was just a freak accident, and it can happen to anybody,” Vasquez said. “It was a lot, it was very emotional. There were a lot of emotions and it was hard to process. We do realize now it could’ve been a lot worse, and we’re just thankful that Percy is as resilient as he is and it turned out the way that it did.”

The Vasquez family is using this experience to bring awareness to the fact that something like this can happen at anytime.

Vasquez and Taylor both said the community support has been heartwarming.

“The community here in Hallam is fantastic,” Vasquez said. “They have rallied around Justin’s family and it’s so almost overwhelming, but so heartening. You realize that there still are good people in this world. And people that care.”

Percy is now at the Madonna Rehabilitation hospital. His family is very thankful he is doing so well now.

“Percy’s happy and thriving,” Vasquez said. “Physical therapy is going great; he can get himself in and out of bed. He crawls around, plays, tools around in that wheelchair like no other.”

There is a fundraiser on July 13 at the Hallam Auditorium. It includes a bake sale, raffle and silent auction.

“It’s really good to see. It’s kind of inspiring because kids are so resilient,” Taylor said.

On June 29, a poker run fundraiser is being held at the Hallam Station.