About Jared Coppola

About Jared

Jared
The Friend, the Son, the Brother, the Athlete

Jared Coppola is a 17 year old triplet from North Reading, Massachusetts who attends St. John’s Prep in Danvers. Since his early years he has been an avid sportsman, playing baseball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and of course his love – football.

Jared’s passion for the game of football began at the early age of seven with the Reading Pop Warner team, the Rockets. He then continued playing football for his home town team, the North Reading Hornets. Jared furthered his love of the sport by playing for his high school team, the St. John’s Prep Eagles. He prizes being an Eagle; he would play on the Eagles’ freshman,
JV and varsity teams. Unfortunately, his football career ended before his junior year really even began.

During a pre-season St. John’s Prep football game, Jared was involved in a tackle that resulted in a broken neck. Fortunately, the Prep’s team doctor was standing on the sidelines. The doctor, coaches and assistants went into action immobilizing Jared’s neck. Within moments, he was being lifted onto a stretcher and into the waiting ambulance. Jared, with his mother now at his side, was immediately taken to Boston’s Children’s Hospital where he underwent many hours of emergency surgery.

After three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, Jared was ready to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility. Jared was transferred by air ambulance to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a catastrophic care hospital where he is receiving aggressive treatment for his spinal cord injuries.

The rehabilitation process will be extremely long, incredibly difficult and very costly. Medical and other expenses continue to mount and not all are covered by insurance, including: specially fitted wheelchairs, travel, tutors, many alterations to the family home and perhaps a handicapped adapted vehicle.

Jared’s family has touched many communities in north eastern Massachusetts. His family has its roots in Everett where his father, Skip, played football and baseball. Jared’s mother, Dawn, was a cheerleader for Everett High School.

Jared’s maternal grandmother and other relatives still live in Everett. Jared’s family resides in North Reading where his parents have raised 5 children: Derek, Brittni, and the triplet boys, Tyler, Brandon and Jared. Derek and Brittni are in college and the boys are juniors at St. John’s Prep. The Coppola children have been active in team sports not only for the Prep, but for North Reading, Reading and AAU. The oldest son continues the family’s love of football by playing at UNH.