On the evening of September 17, 2011, while driving home from the super market, Tim had an accident less than a mile from our home. The area there is particularly dark with hills and turns. The road itself that night was uneven due to resurfacing. Incredibly, the road had no markings to warn my son of changes in the surface. No cones, lights, or signs had been left by the paving company. When Tim’s car made contact with the milled surface, it went out of control. The car spun around and was facing the opposite direction; it hit a stone wall, bounced off, and then hit a telephone pole.
Tim’s first reaction was to get out of the car. When he couldn’t, he called me screaming, “Mom, I can’t feel my legs, I can’t feel my legs!” I rushed to the scene, dialing 911 on my way. When I arrived, I found my son and his totaled car. His upper body was across the passenger’s seat, and his legs lay still on the driver’s side. He said, "Mom, I'm sorry! I can't feel my legs!" I heard the panic in his voice, and felt the panic rise up within myself, but tried to calm and reassure my son that things were ok and that help was on the way.
When EMS workers arrived they recognized the severity of Tim's injuries and he was airlifted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. After meeting with the Neurosurgical Team, the decision was made to stabilize Tim's crushed spine with steel rods and pins. I prayed for the strength to comfort Tim as he lay twisted in pain. I begged him to be a fighter as they wheeled him into the surgical suite. With all the heart my brave boy could muster, he said, "I'll be a fighter Mom. I'm going to fight!"
After many emotional and difficult days in the ICU recovering from surgery, Tim was moved to Magee Rehabilitation Center. Our family remains hopeful that Tim will be able endure the many hours of painful rehabilitation that will hopefully allow him to walk again. He has a long road ahead of him requiring a lot of determination, patience, and resilience. My hopes rest on a loving God and the personal and physical strength of my son.
It is with great humility as a parent, that I ask you to please help our family in any way you can afford. Tim's medical and living expenses from this point forward are sure to be a great financial burden. Our family has grown closer as a result of this tragedy, but the bills we struggled with before this horrific accident will not wait for us to heal. Life and financial burdens will continue while Tim works every day to become stronger.
Your consideration to help others is admirable, your generosity is deeply appreciated…and your ability to touch Tim’s and our lives forever…will never be forgotten. Thank you from the bottom of all our hearts!
Sincerely,
Julie
