The cross-country community in Columbus has drawn closer together in support of St. Peter’s Lutheran cross-country coach Jeff Niewedde.
On Sept. 21 while clearing trees on his property, Niewedde was involved in a serious tractor accident, sustaining multiple skull and facial fractures and injury to his brain and left eye. Niewedde was rushed by helicopter lifeline straight to St. Vincent’s in Indianapolis. After going through a long surgery and being in the trauma ICU for weeks, Niewedde will have a long road ahead to full recovery.
When Niewedde arrived at St. Vincent’s, surgeons reconstructed his face. The surgery took around 12 hours with many pins and plates in place. Julie Terry, Niewedde’s sister, mentioned that he will need two additional surgeries in the future when he’s better recovered to help with his eye…