Anamosa boy critically injured when struck while sledding

ANAMOSA — A boy sledding at home during a snow day this week was critically injured when he slid into the road and was struck by a sport utility vehicle, according to the Iowa State Patrol and a online report from a family friend.

The child’s name and age was withheld from a State Patrol report, but he was identified on a GoFundMe page as Adam McWherter. The fundraising page had raised over $25,000 for the family by Friday afternoon.

According to the State Patrol, the child was sledding about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 13000 block of Buffalo Road in Anamosa when the sled picked up speed going downhill and slid onto the road. Troopers said the sled crossed in front of a northbound 2008 GMC Envoy, which struck the child.

The patrol withheld the name and age of the Envoy’s driver and said the crash remained under investigation.

According to the GoFundMe page — started Thursday by a friend of Adam’s mother, Amanda McWherter — the boy’s heart stopped after the crash but was restarted by paramedics. He was taken to the Jones Regional Hospital and then transferred to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Adam has several broken bones and some bleeding in his brain and lungs, according to the GoFundMe report. His heart was beating on its own and he’s had an increase in brain activity since the crash, but still has a long road to recovery, a Friday update said.

“He has attempted to take a few breaths on his own, but that is very sporadic. He is heavily sedated at this point, and monitoring his temperature is very important to allow his big beautiful brain to heal,” Amanda McWherter said in the update.

“Please keep praying for our big-hearted beautiful boy,” she wrote. “He needs that more than anything right now.”

The Anamosa Wrestling Club posted Thursday on Facebook asking members to contribute donations for a hospital goody basket for the McWherter family and to send cards and other words of encouragement.

“The well-being of our AWC family members is at the core of what makes our AWC family so special.” the wrestling club posted. “In times of joy, we celebrate together, and in times of sorrow, we lean on each other for support. McWherter's are facing an unimaginable situation, and we need to rally together to offer our collective support and solidarity.”

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