WALNUT – A 6-year-old boy severely injured Sept. 19 when his electric mini-bike was struck by a semitrailer is now well enough to be transferred to a Chicago facility for rehabilitation.

Caleb Clausen drove off his driveway in the 300 block of East North Street/state Route 92 around
3:45 p.m. and into the path of the westbound semi.

He was taken to Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton with what Walnut Police Chief Glenn Larson called at the time life-threatening injuries, then flown to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where he has undergone 10 surgeries and has been recovering in the pediatric intensive care unit.

He was taken by ambulance to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on Monday afternoon.

His father, Ben Clausen, provided the update and conveyed his and his wife Annie’s thanks to EMTs, hospital staff and others in a statement given Monday to the Bureau County Republican in Princeton.

Among other things, Clausen said they were grateful for the first responders’ decision to take Caleb to the hospital, rather than meeting Life Flight at the scene.

“That swift decision saved my son’s life. Had he been taken by helicopter straight to OSF, they would not have had the needed blood on board to transfuse into Caleb,” he wrote.

He’s also posting updates on Caleb’s journey on You Caring, a fundraising site. His tone is upbeat and optimistic.

“Caleb has gone from repair, to recovery, and now rehabilitation and healing,” he wrote in his statement.

“It will not be long at all before Caleb will get to play with his friends again. It won’t be long until we get those long snuggles in the recliner at home while eating ice cream or popcorn. It won’t be long until Caleb gets his life back! I know God will be there to see us through this and beyond.”

TO HELP

Ben and Annie Clausen of Walnut are a single-income family with three other young children besides Caleb.

A fundraiser has been established to help pay for Caleb's medical expenses; as of Monday night, more than $29,000 had been raised.

Go to www.youcaring.com/benandannieclausencalebclausen-955818 to follow his progress, and to donate.