6-Year-Old Boy Raises Money After Losing His Leg

The heat didn't keep folks from shopping for a good cause Saturday. Downtown Claremore was a hot spot for residents looking for a bargain and trying to help a 6-year-old who is hoping to walk again.

Saturday, August 28th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The heat didn't keep folks from shopping for a good cause Saturday. Downtown Claremore was a hot spot for residents looking for a bargain and trying to help a 6-year-old who is hoping to walk again.

What may be one man's junk is about to turn into a little boy's future. The knick knacks that were sold at the Claremore garage sale will help Jake Guffey make it down the long road ahead.

"He's just a sweet little 6-year-old boy who needs help," says Doris Byfield, organizer.

The first-grader is about to enter the land of reading and writing and walking. Jake lost his leg in a car accident August 6th and now gets around in a wheelchair.

"I met a truck and as we came up the top of the hill, he was in the middle of the road and I swerved to get out of his way and the ditch was more than I thought and I jerked back up and flipped the car. He flew out the window, and the car fell over on his leg," says Lea Guffey.

His mother says the truck that sent her off the road, just drove off. Jake's 8-year-old brother, Wayne, was able to get away and go for help.

"It was pretty rough, but they got there just in the nick of time," says Guffey.

Jake was rushed to Tulsa's Saint Francis Hospital where he underwent two surgeries. But nothing could save his leg. He is now waiting to go to Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, to be fitted for a prosthesis to help him walk again.

"Don't know why, but there's a reason for it," says Guffey.

Jake's mom says she hopes her son will be walking again by Christmas and with all of the help he's getting it looks like that could happen.

The money raised at the garage sale will help Jake's family pay bills that have piled up since the accident. His mother says she can't thank the community enough for all of the help they've provided.