Island Lake twin remains in critical condition, fund set up
Wauconda area families are rallying around the family of 10-year-old Griffin Shirey, who died in a crash Monday, and his twin brother, Nicholas, who is fighting for his life at a Park Ridge hospital.
While Nicholas Shirey remains in the intensive care unit at Lutheran General Hospital, close friends of his family have set up a collection fund to help with costs incurred by the tragedy.
“We are using email, social media. We are calling organizations that the children have been involved in,” said Susan Tiesi, whose son was a friend of the twins. “You can’t talk to someone or even stop at the grocery store without hearing their last name, or the first name or even about the incident.”
Friends set up the collection fund Wednesday at Fifth Third Bank in Island Lake, but anyone wishing to contribute can donate at any Fifth Third Bank under the name “For the Benefit of Nick and Griff Shirey.”
Nicholas, who was sitting next to his brother in the back seat of their father’s vehicle Monday night when it was struck by a pickup truck, is in critical condition with a lacerated lung at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
“They need to be left alone. Their other son’s life is hanging in the balance,” Tiesi said. “Just the management of calls from doctors and health care providers is enough at this point.”
The impact on the community has been widespread because the well-known boys were involved in a number of sports teams with students from three separate elementary schools.
“Two little boys — especially twins — always stood out,” Tiesi said.
Anyone who wishes to donate at the Island Lake branch of Fifth Third Bank can call (847) 526-1766.