Friends and family of an injured WSU Pullman student are asking for help funding his rehabilitation care.

Kyle Osborne, 19, was hospitalized after being hit by a car on Nov. 25 in Southern California while visiting his family for Thanksgiving. He sustained several injuries including brain hemorrhages, internal bleeding and external bleeding. Osborne has undergone five surgeries since then.

Jennifer Mostero, Osborne’s mother, said he is in a prolonged vegetative state and is minimally conscious.

She said Osborne can follow commands such as squeezing people’s hands or wiggling his toes. However, he does not do this consistently. Osborne recently started turning his head and occasionally lifts it up.

“Every brain injury is different,” Mostero said. “We take it day by day and step by step.”

Osborne’s family and therapists use touch, sight, sound and taste to further the development of his neural connections, she said. Therapists visit Osborne as much as possible, but his family wants him to receive more specialized and intensive rehabilitation five to seven days a week, Mostero said.

Medical insurance will not pay for the neural rehabilitation until Osborne is consistently following commands, she said.

According to the GoFundMe account “Prayers for Kyle,” over $149,000 out of its $500,000 goal has been raised.

The account was created by Owen Leenstra on behalf of Osborne’s family. There was also a Meal Train account set up to send meals to Osborne’s family.

“The term ‘Cougs help Cougs’ is taken serious,” Mostero said. “I feel like they’re family even though we’ve never met before […] I feel so connected.”

Osborne’s family created a Facebook page, “Osborne Strong,” and an Instagram account to post updates on his recovery.

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/kk9v7-prayers-for-kyle?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_6xzn+kk9v7-prayers-for-kyle and www.mealtrain.com/trains/2qky28.