TV News Anchor’s Son Paralyzed from the Waist Down

By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com

James Fletcher, morning news anchor for KRON, Nexstar’s CW affiliate in San Francisco, has been away from the anchor desk for several weeks.

The reason is that James’ son, Collin Fletcher, was admitted to the hospital with what James describes as a “sudden, unexplained neurological crisis.” Within hours, James said, Collin had lost the ability to move his legs.

Currently, Collin, who is 23, is paralyzed from the waist down.

Despite weeks of testing, James says doctors are still “working urgently to identify the cause.”

The situation is urgent as paralysis caused by certain neurological conditions can be reversible — but only if the underlying cause is found and treated in time.

“Every day that passes without answers is a day the window for recovery narrows,” James wrote in an online post. “We are in a race we did not choose, against a clock we cannot stop, fighting for our son’s ability to walk again. And we are doing it while standing at the edge of financial collapse.”

Collin, who his father describes as “sharp, determined, and full of life,” is the kind of young man who faces challenges with quiet resilience. However, physical challenges are not new to him.

He’s battled serious illness his entire life, James said, including Crohn’s disease, seizures, and a string of complex conditions that have had him in and out of hospitals for years.

“Each crisis left behind bills,” James said. “We managed them the way most families do: payment plans, credit cards, loans. We did what we had to do. But years of doing what we had to do have left us with a crushing load of medical debt — and almost no margin left.”

For viewers who would like to reach out to James or express their support, James is posting information and updates on his Facebook and Instagram pages.

The KRON4 family is standing with James, Collin, and the Fletcher family and is wishing Collin strength and a full recovery.

Kevin Beard is Sinclair’s New GM at Two Iowa TV Stations