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PUBLIC SAFETY Teen who fell off Phoenix High School roof improving Brandon Roy, 18, is in Colorado for specialized treatment Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Apr. 1, 2016 at 1:44 PM Updated Apr 1, 2016 at 3:22 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Apr. 1, 2016 at 1:44 PM Updated Apr 1, 2016 at 3:22 PM » Social News PHOENIX — A month ago, Brandon Roy's prognosis didn't look good. The 18-year-old Phoenix High School student lay in a coma after falling 20 feet from the school's roof. His father, Steven, said Brandon had suffered severe brain trauma, a cracked skull and damage to his lung and spleen. "He was pretty messed up," Steven Roy said. "We didn't know he was going to make it for the first week and a half." Brandon has gotten much better since then, but there's still a long way to go. An artist and musician who had been planning to attend Southern Oregon University in the fall, he has been transferred from Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center to Colorado's neurological rehabilitation center Craig Hospital. There, he will undergo a month to three months' worth of intense physical, occupational and speech therapy for his still-healing injuries. "He's very lucky to have gotten in," Steven said. The fall happened around midnight March 2. Steven said Brandon and a friend were out for a nighttime stroll and climbed onto the school's roof. In the dark, Brandon accidentally walked off a ledge and fell about 20 feet. "This was just a freak accident. He was somewhere he shouldn't have been and he's paying the price for it right now," Steven said. Phoenix police said there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the incident and there are no charges pending. Chief Derek Bowker said it's not the first time the department has responded to reports of people on the school's roof. "We've had a couple calls for kids on the elementary school as well," Bowker said. Because of the extent of Brandon's injuries, hospital officials had to keep him sedated for about two weeks. Then he started to improve. Currently, he can communicate some words and phrases with his hands, including "I love you." He gives a thumbs-up to say "yes" or does nothing for "no." Sometimes he'll blink as a way to answer, too, his dad reports. "You kind of have to ask him yes or no questions," Steven said. "He's able to move a little bit, so this is great news." Insurance will take care of some of the medical costs, but Brandon's transport expenses to the hospital, along with his family members' as they visit him, will still end up being costly. There is a Go Fund Me account at https://www.gofundme.com/yrw7rjrc to help offset some of those expenses. Family and friends also will host a fundraising event from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Blue Heron Park. "The whole community of Phoenix has had my son's back since day one," Steven said. "The support from the community has been outstanding." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Apr. 1, 2016 at 1:44 PM Updated Apr 1, 2016 at 3:22 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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