Classmates and family friends of 18-year-old San Ramon Valley High School Senior Jake Javier turned out in support of the popular student athlete after he sustained a severe head injury while swimming at a home on Estates Drive in Danville Thursday.
Javier, who friends said was looking forward to starting college at Cal Poly and who was meant to play football there, was taken to a local trauma center by helicopter shortly after he suffered a significant head trauma while swimming with friends at 4:28 p.m.
Word from his family to friends and supporters reported that Javier was paralyzed from the shoulders down after surgery. His doctors are working to determine if he will be able to regain the use of his arms and hands.
Firefighters and police secured a landing zone for a REACH air ambulance and Javier was airlifted from the varsity baseball field of his high school and taken to a local trauma center, where he underwent surgery Thursday night.
A supportive gathering of students and family friends was organized and held at the school as news of Javier’s injury spread. A gofundme account was started Friday to help with the cost of medical expenses.
Javier won the 2015 Danville Rotary “Peter Villa” Award last year, an award given to the top high school football player in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District each year.
He was an All-League selection as both an offensive and defensive lineman in 2015 as well as a team captain, youth camp counselor, and club officer.
He was prepared to graduate with the rest of his class at San Ramon Valley High today, Friday. There was no immediate word on what his school would do to mark his absence from their commencement.
Any update?
Saw the helicopter landing today. Hope he is okay.
Is he okay?
Heartbreaking.
Our thoughts and prayers are with him and with his family at this hour. Prayers.
Terrible news. We’re thinking of him and his family.
Prayers to him and his family.
We’re so very sorry.
We hugged the kids especially hard last night. Our thoughts are with him and with his family.
O no. May your god give you strength. Terrible news.
So very very sorry to hear this. Does the family need anything???
No words. Just tears at this point. Hoping the family is embraced and given strength by their friends and neighbors at this critical time.
And today is graduation day. Can’t stop crying about this.
Just so tragic and sad. Very sorry to the family.
Our thoughts are with your son and your family.
Sorry brother. Stay strong.
May God grant you strength.
So sorry to hear this. Very sad. Hoping for the best.
Hang in there bruh.
The poor family. Yes do they need anything? Is there anything people can do??
Sorry to hear this and wishing him and his family the best.
A sad and tragic example of how fragile our lives really are. Hold on to your children, to every breath. Something like this injures us all.
Is there anything we can do?
Broke my heart. Prayers for his family.
Praying to my god that he give this boy and his family the strength they need at this time.
Let us know if the family needs anything.
Thoughts and prayers.
Total shock here. Very sad news. Agree with others that if the family needs anything they just need to say what where and when.
We pray for you.
Saw your post last night and was hoping this would work out well. Still hoping for the best.
So very sorry.
I can’t imagine what they must be going through. Let us know if there is ANYTHING we can do.
Such sad news. Hope he his recovery goes well. Has family set up a GoFundMe? He is going to have alot of expenses not covered by insurance…..
Morning, Sharon… this is all still really fresh and we believe the family is processing this news. There has been no word of any effort of the type you mention but should one come to pass we will let the readership know if the family wishes.
Many, many good thoughts sent to this young man & his family.
To the Javier Family: I went to Jake’s football games and cheered him and his teammates on. If Jake survives… The force will be with him always. He was a good kid with a kind heart.
For people asking if the family need anything: https://www.gofundme.com/28s5faz8
More than 80k in there so far. Nice work people….
This is so sad and tragic. Prayers…
Thank you all for the incredible level of support offered to Jake and his family. Your prayers and generous contributions towards the long term well being of jake and his family are beyond words. Jake praying for a speedy and full recovery love will all of our hearts from your cuz Hunter and uncle and auntie Ligaya and Stephane.