“It just shows Tracy and I the lives that we have touched, and now they are touching us back with their support,” Chad Hoth said. “All the lives we’ve interacted with are just pouring out their love for us.” After leaving the varsity basketball game at Oak Park High School on Jan. 8, sophomore Cayden Hoth was in a car crash and had to be cut out of the car and then hospitalized, according to Cayden’s mother, Tracy Hoth. Cayden has limited mobility in his arms, and is only barely able to kick his feet, according to  an update from Tracy Hoth.

As he begins his recovery, Hoth has received support from his family, friends and school community. Tracy Hoth said that how much people care has been overwhelming.

“I never knew we had so many friends,” said Tracy Hoth. “Even people we don’t know have given, and you just know that God moves in people’s lives in ways that you would never imagine.”

Cayden’s father, Chad Hoth, said that the support they have received has been a blessing.

“It just shows Tracy and I the lives that we have touched, and now they are touching us back with their support,” Chad Hoth said. “All the lives we’ve interacted with are just pouring out their love for us.”

Cayden’s GoFundMe page is available online for donations and can be accessed through Cayden’s Facebook page, “Cayden Hoth’s Fight,” where friends and family can also receive updates on Cayden’s recovery and purchase T-shirts with the hashtag #CaydenHothsFight to help support the costs associated with his injuries.

Cayden Hoth went to Denver, Colo., on Jan. 25 for further treatment. He said that he is thankful for all the support he has received. Friends and family have sent cards and balloons, and students at school made a poster and signed it to take to Hoth to show their support.

“I’ll be taking that poster over there to Colorado with me,” Hoth said. “It’s pretty cool.”

Cayden played basketball on the sophomore team and continues to watch the team’s games from the hospital. He has also been using social media to stay in touch with friends. Tracy Hoth has been updating the Facebook page and the GoFundMe page as Cayden undergoes more treatments.

The family reached their initial goal of $40,500 on the GoFundMe page within the first three days.

“I was really surprised I got that much money in two days,” Cayden said. “I’m very thankful.”

The family needed the initial funds to cover the cost of his 75-day rehab, but the fundraising goal was set to $70,000 in order to help the family renovate their home to be wheelchair accessible and purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle, as well as cover the costs of Cayden’s outpatient therapy, medical equipment and prescriptions.

The school has organized an event called “Cayden Hoth’s Fight Night” to help raise funds to meet the family’s new goal. The event will be held on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Falcon Fieldhouse, during the varsity basketball game, which is being dedicated to Cayden and his family.