Saturday Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Paralyzed Lacey Firefighter

An all you can eat spaghetti dinner will be held at the Lanoka Harbor Fire Department on Saturday, May 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. for the Dan Inglis Jr. Benefit Fund, in support of the 24-year-old Lacey native who was paralyzed after a

Daniel, who is a Lanoka Harbor volunteer firefighter and a Union City police officer, was based for several months in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Inglis is now considered a quadriplegic, 

Inglis has since been moved to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange.

“It’s an amazing miracle producing facility,” his father, Daniel Inglis Sr. said in an email.

Daniel has been at Kessler for a month so far and his health has improved tremendously, Daniel Inglis Sr. said.

“He is starting to eat foods including some of his Mom’s world famous baked macaroni and also her mashed potatoes,” he said.

The ventilator settings are slowly being dropped and the inflammation in Daniel’s lungs is also decreasing, Daniel Inglis Sr. said.

“He is a lot happier being in Kessler,” he said. “It is a more healing experience than being in a large NYC ICU hospital, although they were a crucial part in getting Daniel to rehab.”

Nurses and administration are keeping tabs on Daniel, he said.

“He won their hearts over with his incredible strength and perseverance,” he said. “They say he is one of their patients they will always remember. He is making the same impression at Kessler.”

The rehabilitation facility has therapies and treatments that will give Daniel the opportunity to “get to whatever potential God may allow him to reach,” Daniel Inglis Sr. said.

In the meantime, Daniel has been getting visits from family, friends and even his Union City police chief and lieutenant. The visits are supportive and an encouragement, Daniel Inglis Sr. said.

“We would like to thank again every earth angel that has helped in any and every way possible,” Daniel Inglis Sr. said. “It really helps and means so much and our family will be forever grateful. We will pay it forward one day, including Daniel, once we can.”

The spaghetti dinner on Saturday will also include a 50/50 and door prizes. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children between three and 11 years old, and free for children under three. 

Also coming up, a car-motorcycle-antique fire show for Daniel at Gille Park on Sunday, July 15. Details to follow.