Redmond Cheers Injured Teen’s Homecoming

Kyle Reed, the 18-year-old from Redmond who was nearly electrocuted while hunting last Sunday near Culver, returned home Friday from a Portland hospital.

The teen had been recovering at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center since the accident nearly took his life . “People keep calling my mom and my sister, and I keep talking to them.” Kyle Reed told me Friday afternoon, “it’s really nice to hear from everyone.”

On Thursday, Reed was moved from ICU to a regular hospital room, where he had been since been his arrival.

“I can’t wait for this doctor to hurry up and sign the paper so I can get out of here,” Reed said, shortly before he did just that, leaving with a broad grin and wearing a Nike T-shirt that proclaimed, “Damn I’m good.”

Kyle’s mother, Teresa, posted on Saturday that they’d spent the night in the Portland area and were due home Saturday afternoon. Also on Saturday, a car wash to raise funds to help the family raised over $600.

She told NewsChannel 21 earlier in the week that doctors had cooled her son’s body to 93 degrees to give his brain a rest and to prevent brain damage.

On Wednesday, doctors began to warm Kyle back up — and miraculously, the teen responded very well.

“The doctor even said yesterday, he was shaking his head, saying, ‘This is amazing,'” Teresa Reed said.

Many of Kyle’s friends aren’t surprised by the turn of events.

“He’s never given up on anything.” said Nick Jones, “like even in basketball and football, he always tries his hardest with everything.”

On Thursday, when Reed was moved from the ICU, 30 to 40 of his friends and family were on hand to watch and support their friend.

“For him to sit down.” said Andrew Layton, Kyle’s friend, “just having Kyle back — he was really sarcastic and funny and it was just — everything was the same.”

“To be able to talk to him, and just to have a conversation with him like normal was amazing.” said Cody Decamp. “They didn’t expect that to happen, and I didn’t expect that to happen — it just felt really good.”

Over the last week the community has rallied to help the teen.

They’ve raised thousands of dollars to help pay for medical expenses.

For Redmond High School Principal Lee Loving, he couldn’t be more proud of his students.

“We do have a really tight-knit community.” Loving said. “Our student body really has a fondness for each other. It was heart-warming — but not surprising.”

Kyle, who’s ready to get his life back to normal, had a few words for those who cared so much for him.

“I would just like to thank Dalton Hanks, because he saved my life,” said Reed. “Thank you to all my friends, for supporting me and for praying me.”

Students told NewsChannel 21 Friday, Kyle is a huge Harry Potter fan.

For the last four years, he’s been pushing for a dress-up day at Redmond High, but each time it’s been vetoed.

On Wednesday, in Kyle’s honor, his classmates dressed up for ‘Wizard Wednesday.’

And on Memorial Day, a big welcome home party is planned at the RHS football field, a potluck open to all.