Reston Go-Kart racer Ayrton Climo has been released from a Canadian hospital and will continue his rehabilitation at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital.

The Washington Post reports that the 18 year old, who suffered a severe head injury in an Aug. 1 practice run in Trois Riveres, Quebec, is making the 14-hour trip back to the area via ambulance.

After the injury, Climo had brain surgery and spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. His parents, Lisa and Ed Climo, spent time battling their insurance company, who wanted Ayrton to continue rehabilitation in Canada.

They eventually received clearance to return this week, taking a Canadian ambulance to the U.S. border, then continuing the journey by American ambulance.

A GoFundMe account called #KEEPFIGHTINGAYRTON set up by friends in the karting community now has $25,000 in it to help defray mounting medical costs.

Lisa Climo has been posting updates on her son’s recovery on the KeepFightingAyrton Facebook page. Ayrton, a 2014 South Lakes High School graduate, has been eating small amounts of food and talking a bit in the last week.

Photo: Ayrton Climo via GoFundMe.com

More than $11,000 has been raised to help injured Reston go-kart driver Ayrton Climo, but the teen’s parents are having trouble obtaining insurance authorization to transport their son back to the United States, The Washington Post reports.

Climo, 18, graduated from South Lakes High School in June. An experienced go-kart racer, he was on a practice run Aug. 1 in Quebec prior to the Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres, Canada’s biggest karting event,  when he crashed on a 90-degree turn. After hitting hay bales, he hit other cars.

Climo suffered a serious head injury. He had brain surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma. He is now showing small signs of improvement and his parents, Lisa and Ed Climo, want to return him to Virginia. The Climos have insurance through Fairfax County Public Schools, where Lisa Climo is a teacher.

The transport is expected to cost more than $20,000. Ayrton Climo, who was supposed to attend James Madison University this fall, is facing more than a year of rehabilitation.

Reports Tom Jackman on the State of Nova Blog:

But the Climos said CareFirst and Fairfax County, which as the self-insurer has ultimate say on the policy, have denied coverage for the transport home. Ayrton can rehabilitate in Quebec, the Climos were told. The policy with CareFirst does not cover international transport home, they said. Insurance experts said this is not surprising — some policies cover such a situation, some do not, said Clare Krusing of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the trade association of health insurers.

Lisa Climo, stunned, has been pushing Fairfax County schools to step in, to make an exception as the self-insurer. Fairfax schools officials said Friday they could not discuss the case without a waiver from the Climos, but that the insurance companies typically handle all the decisions on coverage, and that customers can appeal decisions.

The Climos have amassed additional expenses as they have been living in Quebec as their son recovers. Members of the racing community have set up the #KEEPFIGHTINGAYRTON fundraising page on GoFundMe.com.

Photo: Ayrton Climo/Credit: Go Fund Me

A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the family of Ayrton Climo as the Reston teen-ager remains in a Canadian hospital.

Climo, a member of South Lakes High School’s Class of 2014, was severely injured in a Go Kart crash in Quebec a week and a half ago.

Climo is an experienced Go Kart racer. He was on a practice run at Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres when he made contact with the hay bales ringing the track and was thrown from his cart.

Climo suffered a head injury and underwent immediate surgery. His parents are reportedly in Quebec with him.

From the Go Fund Me site #KEEPFIGHTINGAYRTON:

Dear friends, family and Karting Community around the World.

We are hoping you would help a young man by the name of Ayrton Climo.

Ayrton was involved in a serious kart racing incident in Trois Rivieres, QC Canada last week and remains in the hospital under the great care of the Medical Team in Trois Rivieres.

Ayrton lives in the USA. Please help us help Ayrton and his Mom, Lisa and Dad, Ed during this very difficult time. Your donations are gratefully received. Please also keep Ayrton and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.