KUNKLETOWN, Pa. — As Karena Thek and her mother Colette Frable prepare for Thanksgiving dinner in their home in Monroe County, they have a lot to be thankful for.
Most importantly: the life of their brother and son, Kyle Frable.
Almost a year ago on Christmas Eve, the Kunkletown firefighter was on the scene at a house fire when he was injured by a hose and suffered multiple pelvis fractures. After a few days in the hospital, Frable went to recover at his mom's house. Then on New Year's Day, he went into cardiac arrest.
"Even in the darkest of hours when we were all like this is not good, my mom was the cheerleader and was like, 'Nope, he's going to get better, nope he's going to come home,'" said Thek, Kyle's sister.
And he is, for the first time in almost a year. But it will be an uphill battle.
"He has been in rehab for the year trying to work his way back to some sort of normal. He's recovering and he's doing well, but he has some disabilities that he will deal with for the rest of his life," said Thek.
Since his injury, the community has come together to support him.
The most recent help came from The Floor Source near Brodheadsville.
The businesses started a fundraiser to raise money to pay for and install a hospital-grade floor in his home.
"We take for granted our volunteers. We take for granted that people are there for us and it was just a way for us to kind of just give back to our community," said Jordon Green, The Floor Source Owner.
Assistant Fire Chief Louis Salerno and Fire Chief Brian Stankovich were there the day Kyle was injured.
Stankovich says Kyle has been on the job for 30-plus years and would help anyone who needed it.
He hopes the community will continue to rally behind him.
That's why the fire company is collecting donations for things Kyle will need in the future, like an upgraded bathroom.
"It will be good for the community to come back you now support him in his time of need, when he was always out there to help other people in their worst time," said Stankovich.
"Not only is he a hero," Thek said. "He's a miracle because he did come off of life support and then they said he would never move, and he started moving his arms and they said he would never talk and he started talking, and he would never come off of a feeding tube and he came off of a feeding tube and feed himself."
As many count their blessings this holiday season, Kyle's family hopes they think of our local heroes.
"There are really good people out there that volunteer, that put their life on the line every single day for us, and when one of us needs, there, there," Thek said.
The family says they're taking it day by day and know that will be a long road ahead, but are grateful to have Kyle back where he belongs.
Kyle comes home on November 30th.
If you would like to help Kyle and his family, you send a check or donation to Kunkletown Vol. Fire Co, Po Box 357, Kunkletown, PA 18057, Memo- KyleFrable.
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