Watch VideoAmazing generosity for medical marvel in Penrose
Story By: Nicole Vandeputte
Source: KOAA
It's a story that started here on News First 5/30, and quickly got attention across the nation. A medical miracle in the small town of Penrose. 19 Year old Chris Clear survived an accident that shot a large metal pin into his brain.
Chris is now adjusting to his brush with fame. Around Penrose, Chris is affectionately known as "pinhead". He says, "I get that almost everywhere I go. I know I've seen you somewhere."
It's the image of his brain scan, showing a large metal pin, that sticks in the mind. Chris was helping a friend move a roto-tiller last April when the large metal pin shot into his brain. He says, "The blunt part of it hit me right in the nose, and it came back and travelled all the way to the back of my head."
After 2 days of excruciating pain, and 9 hours of surgery, the pin was removed. We told you about Chris in July, and his story quickly swept across the nation, even overseas. A British reporter even contacted him for his story. If you search his name on google, several pages pop up. Chris says, "It's pretty crazy. Now you can google my name. I never thought you could do that."
By popular demand, there are even t-shirts for sale, with Chris' brain scan on them. The website selling these shirts was created by his mom, Dawn Clear. She shows them to us, "This one is what they refer to as the pinhead shirt."
The website started as a way to raise money for the volunteer firefighters in Penrose. Chris is one of them. The pictures showed the firefighters battling blazes. After the accident, unusual requests started coming in. "Everybody started calling, wanting the xray image of his CT scan. We said are you crazy?" says Dawn. Chris has seen people wearing them around Penrose. He says,"I've seen a couple people wear them, which is weird, because it's like, hey, that's mine."
Chris is still a volunteer firefighter in Penrose. He also works part time with AMR out of Canon City. Even on the ambulance, he's recognized. He says, "They'll be like I've seen you somewhere. I'll be like yea, you probably saw me on the news. (they say) I saw that, that had to be horrible. I'm like I'm transporting you to the hospital right now, and you think my deal was bad."
He's asked so much about his story, Chris keeps that pin in his truck. He still can't get used to the spotlight. He was even nervous when we filmed. That's Chris Clear. He doesn't let his fame go to his head.
Those shirts and brain scans are sold on this website: shop.cafepress.com/chris-clear
The proceeds go toward paying Chris' medical bills. Money also goes towards the Penrose Volunteer Fire Department.
Chris didn't have insurance when the accident happened.
On Saturday, at the Apple festival in Penrose, his fellow firefighters raised enough money to pay for Chris' medical bills. His family was in tears when they told us about two people who donated a huge amount. One man, who didn't even say his name, handed Chris a check for $1,000. Another man gave him $5,000.
