JT- "I moved my left big toe today!!"

Update. Praise Update. After settling in to Day program J.T. had been doing well. I on the other hand was really struggling. Just being away from Christie, Jacob and Peyton and especially feeling like I just wanted so much more Healing and improvement. Sleep has been difficult and I had started questioning So much. I was generally discouraged. I have been Praying hard and hoping for some kind of break thru that would jump start him and give us more Hope. After not sleeping... a wink last night with so much on my mind. I came to pick JT up after Therapy today and he had some Good News for me. He moved his left Toe 7-8 times for the therapist today. He had actually done it one other time when Christie , Peyton and myself saw it one weekend , but when he tried to show the therapist he couldn't do it. In order to get on certain machines insurance wise he has to do it for them, so now that he has proven to them he has movement he can now get on the Loco Mat and use other aggressive techniques . While the movement is small and the road is Long this is Huge for Him and Us. We give All The Glory to God and want to Praise him for this!!! We would also like to thank everyone and ask that you Continue to Pray. The Lord is in Control and his plan will be revealed. I continue to Pray for Healing and Progress. We are Ecstatic!!! I am so Amazed at J.T. and his Attitude he never gets Down. Thank You All and Most of All Thank You Jesus!!!! Pray for our safe trip home. #fightfor5

Hope everyone has a Blessed Weekend

Update JT finished up Therapy this week.  He has worked very Hard.  He not only does Therapy but he has Academics /School Work Daily.  His Teacher is excellent and he Loves Class.  He got to go do some Rifle Shooting this week and loved it.  He wants to come home and do some Deer Hunting.   He wanted to come home for the South game tonight but we have decided to rest and try and come home next weekend.  Tennessee does play Florida next week!!  On the Tennessee Front one of the new Patients here is Former Tennessee Vol Lee Otis Burton who was a member of Johnny Majors first recruiting Class.  He played with Reggie White.  He was is so nice we had a group dinner with the patents on the 4th floor and JT and I ate with him.  JT has such an Amazing attitude and takes time to visit and encourage other patients. The Peer Counselors here use JT to help them.  I am so proud .  Today we had a visit from Ga. Tech QB Justin Thomas and RB Nathan Cottrell.  Another JT wearing #5 and Cottrell played at Knox West.  They brought JT his own GT #5 Jersey.   They had a nice visit and were very encouraging.  This was all set up by an old ETSU fellow named Jay Shupe.  The Head Trainer at GT.  He is from Wise Va. And was at ETSU when Coach Sivert was there.   JT also had his picture made withDr. Elmers daughter we'll only one one was a little shy.  Both are so cute and I was so impressed when this little girl met J.T.  she looked at him and told him he had a beautiful Smile.  How Sweet!!!  We Love Dr.Elmers and her Family.  Heck she is Family now.  It has been a Blessed Week and we look forward to spending time with family and resting.  We have had some difficulties getting his supplies but we switched to a company that is local.  A company that is owned by a former E&H graduate and Football player Charlie Cole.  Charlie and his Brother Jeremiah aha e went above and beyond what is expected to take care of J.T.  And we are so Thankful.  Pray for safe travels, Patience, Understanding, Discipline,  and Healing.  Gods Grace is Sufficient and we are so Blessed.  The Tragedy that happened in the Boone Community is enough to remind us of that.  Please continue to Pray for that Community.  Hope everyone has a Blessed Weekend . Remember to enjoy the the little things and take nothing for Granted.    God Bless and #fightfor5

We miss our Home and Our Community. God Bless You All.

Update. I am sorry it's taken so long to update ,  but now that his in in out-patient .  Our Schedule especially mine is non-stop.  I jokingly refer to myself as a Doc-Tech-Nurse.  I will try my best to at least update weekly.  The daily Narrative is just not possible.  We jumped into the Day Program with Orientation and Therapy last week.  The Freedom we have is Good.  The adjustment to fitting in everything is somewhat overwhelming. After the Amazing but tiring weekend  we had at home we pretty much crashed mid week. He was just so tired.  He has set many Goals in getting better at every day things and also long term Goals of getting more flexibility , strength, movement and ultimately Walking.  As I have always said this is truly a Marathon not a Sprint.  By Thursday evening we had things organized and seemed to have our heads above water as far as our routine.  At times he still has to wake up every 4 hours for care which is very tiresome.  We are attempting to adjust his schedule for more rest which he needs dearly.  Their are so many extra things I feel like I need to be doing but just can't seem to fit it all in.  Friday Christie arrived we had missed her so much.  She still struggles with everyone being apart as do I.  For the weekend we had no plans.  As much as he needed the weekend at home he and all of us needed a weekend of Sleeping, eating, resting and watching Football.  The R&R we got was so good.  We just bought some groceries and stayed in.  This week he has had more energy and he seems to be doing well.  I am Amazed at the Positive Attitude he has. He just never gets down.  Myself well I am sometimes frustrated as I want so much more for him.  I have tried to give him normalcy by trying my best to do for him what his Wonderful Mother would do.  So I have been fixing him Breakfast and Supper.  I am in no way as good as Christie but I can Grill things and fix Cheese Burger Mac.  He needs to add weight for strength and for the simple fact that he has lost around 35-40 lbs since the accident.  He is so skinny.  We have had concerns over skin issues due to being so bony.  We are trying to get a plan for so many of his personal care needs and that struggle will not be sorted out soon. It's just trial and error and improvement.  Plans are flowing well at home for his room.  We were given our discharge date for Day Program and that is Oct 14th.  We also have a date of Oct 17th for his transition into Beyond Therapy.  We are so Thankful that this plan is in place.  It's still one day at a time but that should put our arrival home at Sometime around Thanksgiving.  What a Wonderful Day that will be.  He is a barrel  of laughs and loves getting to spend time texting and face timing friends.  We had tickets to the Battle of Bristol but that was just not the best decision. Friday night he listened intently to the exciting Win the Chiefs had over Cocke County.  Saturday we prepared all day to Watch The Big Orange Whip Va.Tech.  I admittedly had mixed feeling because Jacob was at the game and it broke my heart not to be there with him.  He had a Great time and said his favorite thing about the game was the National Anthem and tribute to our Great Country.  This made me proud.  Peyton is busy at Furman and we miss her too.  I am so sorry that I can't update more but we still desire your Prayers and Genuinely appreciate everyone Concern.  On that note JT was very upset at the tragic accident that happened to the young Raybun girl,  her boyfriend Sanders and the whole Boone community.  He actually was friends with the Raybun girl and spoke highly of her.  The whole Boone community and especially their families are in our Prayers.  I have visited with Aaron Wilder here at Shepherd and they need your Prayers too. We also continue to Pray for Logan Condra.    Sorry for the long post.  Just wanted you to know that JT is Fighting everyday.  We miss our Home and Our Community.  God Bless You All.  #fightfor5

Pick up at USave Drug Center or East TN IRon & Metal.

The Fight for 5 T-Shirts are still Available!!!

Order online see flyer below includes $3 shipping. 

9/13/2016 Rogersville City School will be selling at Home Game

Call 423-235-4119 for more pick up locations 

Thanks to God, Family, Friends and an Amazing Community.

Update we packed up early Friday morning and headed for the 5hour Drive home with much anticipation!!!  We drove Straight to CHS where J.T. Got to hangout with his Friends, Teachers and Coaches for a couple of hours.  Loaded up and drove to our house and got ready for the game. At our home we found gifts of homemade food, Desserts and Snacks.  They lasted all weekend.  Food was Supplied by Shawna Owen and Brenda Smith , Quinn Kersey, ERBC Sunday School Class, Barry and Shannon Bellamy, Travis and she nicer Carpenter, Danny and Leah Brooks, Tommy and Hollie Brooks, and my mother-in-law Diane Smith.  We headed back to CHS for the where J.T's teammates were waiting for the  Inaugural Mobuck Walk.  Things took on a Magical Tone at that point.  I could not believe how many people had arrived at 5:30 for this Glorious night.  The Crowd was Huge.  We were Greeted with Smiles, Waves , and Hugs. It was Very Emotional!!!  J.T. Went to the locker room and his Locker was set up for him.  His teammates treated just as they always had with respect and friendship.  He went out for warm ups and the crowd erupted !!! They were Amped from the get go!!!  The rest of the night was Just Plain Awesome!!  My words can not do it justice.  The pictures and Videos out there tell the story so much better.  He was interviewed by 4 T.V. Stations and multiple Newspapers.  I got to be by his side . I just tried to let him take it all in and he did.  You could just see by the look on his face he was Home in his Element.  The Sullivan Central Team and School showed Amazing Class and Respect.  During the game he Celebrated with his Teammates, Took the Head Phones and Called a Play or two with his Coaches.  By the time the game was over people had started coming out of the stands to Love on him the procession of Friends, Family and even just people wishing him well kept growing and growing.  It seemed like we were some of the last to leave the field.  My Emotions were getting the best of me in so many ways.  I was so taken back when the game was over and each and every Sullivan Central Player came over and Greeted J.T..  They told him he was a Legend!!!  We finally headed home where he had River Bailey, Eion Hughes, Carter Reynolds, Grayson Cowan ,  Ryan Bledsoe and Huston Hamilton spend the night.  They stayed up until 3:15AM.  He woke after a little Sleep in and headed right out with his friend to in his words go everywhere in Rogersville.  They hit The El Parasio, The Town Square, Pals, Callie's Cabana and parts unknown.  He had a Fantasy Football draft with some classmates.  The Chauffeur for the Day was Jaret Brooks with the team of River Bailey and Ethan Crowder in tow.  They arrived back home to watch College Football.  Jaret and Ethan spent the night.  We got up and thru much hard work made it to church just in time!!!  We have been so blessed by our ERBC Family!!! The service was great and J.T. did speak briefly Thanking them.  After church we came home and had a Good Old Fashioned Family Cookout.  Bacon Cheeseburgers by my brother Danny and his wife Leah who set the Bar very high.  Tommy and Hollie brought Baked Beans and Tater Salad.  Diane Smith brought her Famous Butter Scotch Pie!!!  We had a blast!!!  Unfortunately it all came to an end today when Peyton had to go back to Furman and J.T. and I headed to ATL. We made it here safely with terrible Traffic.   As I Reflect in my exhaustion I am so Thankful and Just Taken Back by the Enormity of the Support We have Received over this time, but things were taken to another level this weekend.  Our whole Community and those around us have gotten behind J.T. . I have just spent some 102 days in Atlanta a Great Big City of 6.4 million people !!!  I had told Christie that had we lived somewhere like this we would maybe have 5-10 friends and. That's it yet we live in this little Community and have the Support and Love of Thousands.  It's Quite Amazing and is a Testament of the up brining we all have had and more importantly it shows that we are God fearing People. This is Proof that the world and our Community in particular has many Great people in it. The people who's lives have been touched by this has definitely renewed not only my Faith in my Fellow man.  It has Drawn me and many others Closer to God.  I know he can and will provide.  This weekend was so therapeutic for J.T.  to know that he can come home and be himself.  It was what Christie, Peyton, Jacob and My Family needed.  I also believe that our Community , His Teammates, Coaches, Classmates, Teachers, and Friends needed.  Now they too know that by seeing his smile and his determination that J.T. will be okay and that he will overcome this .  Thanks to God, Family, Friends and an Amazing Community.  The Respect and Embracing we have felt from surrounding Communities included!!! So many were involved in this Monumental Event that I would leave someone out so I will just end saying Thank You All So Much.  We Love You Genuinely and God Bless!!! #fightfor5

Great event that will happen in our Community this weekend

Update The week has been crazy.  We have trained, rehabbed, Packed, Moved, Loaded,  Said Good bye,  Thank You.  The Excitement of Traveling home Coupled with the uncertainty of another step is somewhat overwhelming .  I would like to take time to reflect on the progress he has made, but it seems like we just have to keep our heads down and Grind!!! Tomorrow God Willing J.T. and I will spend our first night at home since May 22nd.  J.T. Graduated from In-Patient Today.  The Crowd was big, The words where many and the Hugs where plenty.   The Doctors, Therapists, Nurses, Techs and Support Staff that have treated J.T. and our family so well  where all present.  They had so many kind words and gave him many accolades.  He handed down the Mayor to Ryley, The hard head Award to Cody and the Times will get better to Conner.  Dr. Calendine made a Surprise appearance.  We had time to push down a small  sandwich and keep  Moving , Loading and Packing.     We ended up getting to watch a little of the Tennessee vs. APP. State Game.  Whew pulled that one out.  J.T. Got in bed early . We plan and I stress Plan on leaving on or before 8 in the morning. The journey is long and our Hurdles are many.  I know this trip is gonna be something so special for J.T.  And it's the Kind of Re-Fueling he needs to push on.  The Emotions that Christie and I are Gonna have are gonna be hard to contain.  Please Pray for Safe Travels.  Remember that J.T. Wants nothing but to see his Family, Friends, Teammates, Coaches and Teachers.  It will be tough to meet all needs. Our main Goal is for him to Enjoy show Thanks,  recharge , and have fun.  That being said please Pray that we can meet his needs.  We will be completely on our own with no safety net for the first time.  In its own way it's rehab because we are learning on the fly. Mistakes will be many so Pray for Patience and Understanding.  We look forward to Seeing and Feeling the Love from you .  I'm not sure how much updating I'll get done so We want to Thank you All in Advance.  We really have know idea just how much planning work and Support that has went into this Great event that will happen in our Community this weekend, but We do know it has been a Huge Effort!!! One that we are so Grateful for.  Thank You and God Bless You All!!! #Fightfor5