Upstate teen lost his arm in a farm accident. It isn’t stopping him from pursuing his dreams

Everything in Conner Kelly’s life, whether it was work or play, involved the full use of his body.

The Upstate teen, 15, worked on his family farm. He loved to hunt and fish. Last year he joined his high school’s lacrosse team. And after graduating from Byrnes High School, he plans to pursue a career as a welder.

In September, Kelly lost his left arm in a farming accident. But he’s not giving up on his dreams.

“If he could hunt and fish 24 hours a day, he would,” said Kaitlin Distler, a math teacher at Byrnes High in Spartanburg County.

In fact, the day his 125 staples and three drain tubes were removed following his arm amputation, he went fishing and caught one, according to his mother, Tonya Kelly. He was cleared to resume lacrosse, a sport he is relatively new at, and recently scored a goal.

“He’s an all-around country boy,” Tonya Kelly said.

The accident happened in late September when Conner Kelly was working on his family’s farm and the hay baler jammed. He climbed on top to see what was wrong, slipped and got his arm caught in the baler, Tonya Kelly said. Conner Kelly’s arm was stuck in the baler for an hour and a half, Tonya Kelly said. He was later airlifted to a hospital.

Despite the traumatic accident, Kelly remains upbeat, “good natured” and “always smiling,” Distler said.

“He’s just still as happy and full of life as he was before the accident,” Distler said.

In interviews, Conner Kelly has said his faith and focusing on the things he loves have helped keep him positive.

“God’s got a plan and you’re going to do good either way,” Conner Kelly told Fox Carolina.

To help raise money for medical bills, family and friends are holding a golf tournament and fish fry on March 26 at Mountain View Par Three in Inman, S.C. They have also set up a gofundme.com page.

Insurance covered all but $6,000 of Kelly’s main, $250,000 prosthetic arm. The additional money will be used to purchase specialized prosthetic arms that make it easier for Kelly to hunt, fish and do the other outdoor activities he loves, his mother said.

“Right now, he is playing lacrosse with one hand,” Tonya Kelly said.