Just more than two weeks after Mike King was struck by a car while serving as an Oakland Township/Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Company volunteer firefighter, he was able to see his 7-year-old daughter again.

It was an emotional reunion between King and his daughter, according to King’s sister, Stacey Shields, who is also a firefighter. As he recovers from the March 13 incident, he looks forward to spending more time with her and getting back to being a firefighter, Shields said.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, King was moved from Allegheny General Hospital to a short-term rehabilitation center at Allegheny Valley Hospital, where he’s expected to stay for 10-12 days. His recovery period after the rehabilitation center is up to him and his doctors.

“Don’t take any family for granted,” Shields said. “You never know when that day is going to come.”

Shields said the family called King “Robo-man” even before the March 13 injury required more metal to be added to his body for his recovery.

King was taken to the hospital after he was struck by a car while responding with his fire company for a fallen tree blocking a lane in the 500 block of Oneida Valley Road.

He broke all his ribs, which required four metal plates to stabilize, sustained lung contusions, a skull fracture, broken shoulder, facial lacerations and required surgical repairs to his orbital sockets, nasal passages and jaw. Metal plates were also added to his face.

A previous injury in his life required a metal plate and screws be added to his leg.

Even with the metal, he’ll keep going.

Even before being transferred for rehab, Shields said, King was adamant he’d be back to the fire service.

“He’s not going to let this keep him from doing what he loves to do,” she said.

King was using a chainsaw to cut trees that were blocking a lane of traffic before he was struck by a vehicle. Before the incident, the six-year firefighter was joking around with a coworker about something bad happening on Friday the 13th, Shields said.

“We take that risk every time we respond to a call,” Shields said. “We know that risk is there, but our concern is going to make sure the community is safe, so we put ourselves in harm’s way.”

The tree was blocking the southbound lane on Oneida Valley Road. Shields said as King was cutting the tree, nearby treetops broke off, covered him and pushed him into the road as he was attempting to get away.

The driver who struck King didn’t see him covered in the trees, Shields said.

“It was mother nature, and you can’t control mother nature,” she said.

Shields was at home caring for her horses when she heard the call for a firefighter down over the radio. She went there and learned from the fire police captain about her brother. Then, she heard him screaming.

“Mike is a very strong person,” Shields said. “If he is screaming, he is in pain.”

When Shields arrived at the hospital where her brother was taken, security told her they were shocked to see King was conscious when he arrived due to the state of his injuries.

“For me, it was hard to keep my emotions in check,” Shields said about seeing her brother with his injuries.

King was able to communicate the entire time he was in the ICU, despite being hooked to a ventilator and chest tubes. He communicated with hand squeezes and was able to write, if someone moved the paper for him. Shields said he was concerned in the beginning with letting his fellow firefighters know he was OK.

Shields stayed with him in the hospital the weekend it happened and returns every chance she gets, which is typically two days during the week and on the weekends.

She said someone has always been with him, whether it’s her, his wife Kryssy, parents, in-laws or the fire chief.

Shields said the prayers and support from his fire company and community members have meant a lot to her brother.

A GoFundMe was created the day after King’s accident and had raised $23,770 as of Friday morning. The funds will cover costs of King’s care and daily living until he can work again.

“It means a lot,” Shields said. “It helps him and his wife be able to pay their bills when Michael is not able to work and won’t be able to work for quite a while.”

The Oakland Township/Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Company has multiple events coming up for the community to offer support.

It has a spaghetti dinner scheduled on April 12, a rabies and nail-trimming clinic on April 18, and an all-you-can-eat breakfast on April 19. More information can be found on the fire company’s Facebook page.

Also planned, on May 23, the fire company and Butler Autoworks will host a car show for King’s benefit at the Clearview Mall. Shields said her brother will be there, if he’s able.