The community is rallying around a Mt. Carmel High School junior who was severely injured in a Sabre Springs vehicle accident a week ago.

As of Friday afternoon, more than $39,000 of a $100,000 goal had been donated by more than 430 contributors on a YouCaring website to help the family of Isaac Coulapides with expenses related to the 16-year-old’s condition and recovery. The anticipated expenses include retrofitting the family’s home for wheelchair accessibility plus purchasing a wheelchair, special bed and other expensive medical equipment.

The website is at youcaring.com/isaaccoulapides-977211.

“Medical bills will be astronomical at the same time that family income will decrease as Isaac’s parents and family members take time away from work to care for him,” according to the website.

Isaac Coulapides (Mt. Carmel cheer team website)

Per the website, Coulapides’ T3 and T4 vertebrae were crushed, his sternum fractured and spinal cord severed, which has resulted in paralysis from the chest down. He has no function in his legs and torso and on Sunday had surgery to relieve the pressure on surrounding nerves and to fuse his thoracic vertebrae to prevent further damage.

The teen was involved in a one-vehicle accident on the 13000 block of Sabre Springs Parkway after his cheer team gathered at Oggi’s restaurant following the Mt. Carmel-Poway football game on Oct. 6.

According to San Diego police Sgt. Michael Tansey, the crash — reported at 10:47 p.m. — was attributed to excessive speed, causing Coulapides to lose control of the 2002 Jeep Cherokee he was driving southbound. It crashed into an embankment and two trees.

Mt. Carmel High Head Cheer Coach Ian Lopez said he has visited Coulapides at Scripps Memorial La Jolla several times in the past week, including on the night of the accident. Despite his medical condition, Lopez said the teen is still expressing his sense of humor and spunkiness.

This is Coulapides’ first year on the Mt. Carmel cheer team and Lopez said his skills and level of dedication has been “phenomenal,” describing how he “picked up tumbling skills like a back handspring in 15 minutes.” His most recent accomplishment was to perfect a back tuck.

“He is dedicated ... with a drive and passion; a good person who makes everyone laugh and not give up,” Lopez said. “Overall ... he is really humble, with a lot of school spirit and he is an awesome (person).”

Coulapides’ fellow Sundevil cheerleaders are still processing what happened to their teammate, but have decided to dedicate the remainder of their community service efforts for the year to groups involved with spinal cord injuries and research. Lopez said the team had completed five of its required 35 hours, with initial efforts focused on brain tumor charitable work.

At tonight’s (Oct. 13) Mt. Carmel home football game the cheerleaders will wear red ribbons in their hair as a sign of support for Coulapides because red is the Coulapides’ favorite color in addition to being one of Mt. Carmel’s school colors, the coach said.

Lopez said he told the team that “Isaac would not want us to be somber, but to kick butt by hitting a great routine. Do it for Isaac.” He added, “They are ready to have their teammate back in his new wheelchair cheering with them from the sidelines.”

Lopez said the team has not yet thought about what fundraising efforts it will do for their teammate since the teens “are still in the processing stage and are keeping their hopes high for what happens in the future.” However, the football and cheer boosters will be accepting donations — including gift cards — for the Coulapides family at the spirit booth, where game attendees can also write notes of encouragement.

He said Mt. Carmel students are also putting together some gifts and other surprises to cheer their classmate while he is in the hospital. “Sentimental surprises are in the works,” Lopez said.

email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com