Living on her own in Jacksonville at 22 years old and excited about the future, Ann Forrest was on her way to her musical education internship in the early morning of October 27, 2008, when she fell asleep at the wheel. Her car veered to the left side of the road, then the right, and then flipped vertically end over end, based on eyewitness accounts. The force catapulted her 50 feet from the car onto a cushion of wet grassy soil, absorbing much of the impact. This proved to be a lifesaving distance from the resulting explosion that melted the car’s interior.

Ann Forrest was brought to TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville. Her family was notified of the situation and began the drive to Jacksonville from Lexington, S.C., with indescribable anxiety. Her diagnosis was multiple contusions with the possibility of brain injury, right lung collapse, nasal skull fracture, pelvic fractures, lumbar fracture, and tailbone fracture. Yet, she didn’t have any visible external injuries.

Ann Forrest was intubated as the TraumaOne medical team worked rapidly and efficiently to prepare her for the operating room. As her loved ones arrived, they were told the next three days would be critical as the extent of brain damage was yet undetermined. Staff proved to be consistently encouraging and patiently answered a myriad of questions. "The staff was always watching and caring and within reach, including the lead surgeon," says Ann’s father, Harry. Although still unconscious, the second day offered a glimmer of hope: Ann Forest positively responded to stimulation and she began to breathe on her own. She woke up three days after her accident and began piecing together her surroundings.

Ann Forrest’s recovery was enduring and courageous. She worked hard and recovered with physical therapy in time for her December wedding. Witnessing other families cope with similar circumstances in the waiting room, Ann Forrest’s father, Harry, shares some key insights. "Trust in the Lord. Share with others. Trust in the ability of the Shands Jacksonville medical team and let them do their job. They are the best. Avoid overrun emotions. Trust in God and let it go."

top of page

Close to midnight on March 31, 2008, Antonio was driving along a dark country road and fell asleep at the wheel. His truck went into the median, hit a power box, then a telephone pole and spun into a roll. Antonio was thrown far from the vehicle, close to the woods. There he lay for hours until a telephone technician saw the glow of his watch deep in the grass and called for help.

Antonio was taken to TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville with a broken vertebrae and was paralyzed from the neck down. Immediately, physicians opted to surgically remove a portion of bone from his hip to fuse an area of his neck. Antonio was intubated and couldn’t move when his family arrived. After two weeks, staff tested for feeling in his limbs and was encouraged that he could slightly move his hands. "The ICU staff was amazing," said Antonio. "They made me feel comfortable and gave me great confidence, especially my surgeon."

After intensive daily work, Antonio’s mobility returned within six weeks while working with Brooks Rehabilitation. Life, with his new understanding of loss, is completely different. "I took my family for granted for so long. Now everything is appreciated and my family comes first," Antonio said. "I didn’t know about God before the accident, but I believe He took me from the car and laid me down gently since my body had no marks, no bruises."

For those who are facing critical situations at TraumaOne, he advises them to keep the faith every minute of every day because good can come of anything.

"Now, I see my life more abundantly. My marriage became more connected because I know my wife is there for me. This moment brought us closer," Antonio stated. "Love, faith and loyalty, in concert with compassionate, amazing medical care, can give a man new mobility and new momentum for a new beginning."

top of page

Christmas Eve 2007 is a powerful memory for Buddy’s family. After Christmas Eve dinner was finished and gifts exchanged, 11-year-old Buddy and his siblings went for a ride on their new four-wheelers. In the excitement, something went wrong. Buddy was thrown from his four-wheeler and had to be airlifted from Folkston, Georgia to TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville. Doctors determined that Buddy had suffered a brain injury, chipped vertebrae in his neck, a punctured lung, broken ribs and collarbone.

The severity of his head injuries forced his body into a coma and upon admission he was immediately taken to surgery to alleviate pressure in his brain. Unfortunately, Buddy’s brain swelling did not subside at the pace of most patients, forcing doctors to keep him in a medically induced coma for days. With additional lung complications, it was a trying week for his family. When Buddy’s brain pressure finally decreased and he awoke from the coma, he was unable to communicate with anyone and had lost a significant amount of weight.

"When Buddy was taken off the ventilator…he was like a newborn baby and had to learn to do everything all over again," says his mother, Pollie. After a courageous push through weeks of physical therapy, Buddy’s feeding tube was removed and he began to talk, sit up and stand with assistance.

Today, after moving through amazing hurdles, Buddy’s passion for baseball motivates him to play again. One of the biggest moments of his young life was being awarded the honor of throwing the opening pitch at a Jacksonville Suns game in May 2008. Now that Buddy’s back on the field, he is sure to inspire many behind him in the batting lineup.

top of page

The pressures of life were full force for Carlos. Having just relocated to the US, learning a new language, acquiring a new job, having a newborn baby, separated from extended family, and his 3-year-old recently admitted to Shands Jacksonville for a diabetic abscess, Carlos was fielding a new definition of a tough week. On July 13, 2007, things got even tougher when his waste management truck was struck by an oncoming car. Carlos was thrown over 50 feet in the air and significantly injured his head as he crashed to the ground. Upon entry to TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville, the region’s only Level I trauma center, physicians determined that he had suffered a severe brain injury, broken vertebrae throughout his spine and a knee fracture.

Carlos’ wife spoke of the impact of waiting in worry. "The medical teams moved Carlos quickly. The nurse assigned to us handled everything and was just wonderful to me. The chaplain’s visit comforted me tremendously. The nursing staff let me stay with Carlos when I was most scared. They explained everything in basic terms, repeating everything over and over when necessary. The doctors served us one to one in ICU."

She said Isaiah 53:4-5 from the Bible helped her cope in the hardest of days. "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

The trauma team saved Carlos’ life but his life changed tremendously as a result of the accident. Pain management is a top concern for Carlos to get through each day. Experiencing life’s simple pleasures with his family are his deepest chords of joy. Gaining more memory and moving through new stages of recovery, his wife believes that this incident significantly deepened Carlos’ marriage and his belief in God.

Carlos loves music, reading and laughing with his family. Carlos is beginning a course toward a new career, and has found above all things, the power of loyalty and love through family support. To help those along the path to recovery, Carlos suggests, "Trust in God and leave everything in His hands."

top of page

Chris was driving his truck to summer school the morning of July 16, 2001, when he got distracted and hit a curb. Attempting to correct his mistake, he hit a concrete light pole at a fire station entrance, which would prove to be pivotal in his resuscitation. The impact took him airborne and his truck rolled over another car. With paramedics at the scene of the accident, he was taken to TraumaOne within minutes.

Chris suffered a blood clot in his brain. After surgery, which resulted in a titanium plate being attached to the right side of his skull, he went into a coma for two days. Family members waited in fear as the indicators were not positive that he would survive. Chris continued not to respond to stimulus. The surgeon indicated that the situation was purely "wait and see." Friends joined family for multiple prayer services. The trauma team told Chris’ parents to go home and rest since they might have to make some hard decisions. But one nurse reassured them, saying, "Never give up hope! We see miracles every day here." This was the phrase Chris’ mom, Jamie, clung to in those hours after the accident.

Chris did respond eventually and proceeded through a courageous recovery. Today, nothing holds him back. He lives life fully. He finished college in California and spends his free time hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, doing yoga and taking on any other adventure life hands him. His mom credits this near-death experience with softening his demeanor and building enormous compassion throughout all of his relationships. "The Level I trauma services at Shands Jacksonville, with the help of the Lord, saved my son’s life," says Jamie. "And our family is forever grateful."

top of page

January 27, 2007, was supposed to be a typical day for an employee of the Emergency Department at Shands Jacksonville. Instead, it became the pivotal turning point in Don’s life. Don hopped into a car to go to a meeting. Within minutes, another car ran a red light at the intersection and his vehicle flipped three times, landing upside down.

This position, thanks to a seat belt harnessing him in place, was critical to saving Don’s life. His injuries included a shattered pelvis, scapula and clavicle fractures, loss of mobility in his right arm, a collapsed lung, and aortic transection. Seconds count with an aortic transection and Don’s position in the car, upside down and crunched, forced a backflow of blood and clotting, affording a greater possibility of rescue. Most people would bleed out within minutes.

After being admitted to TraumaOne, Don went into cardiac arrest seven times, but the doctors and nurses never gave up and neither did he.

Through extensive physical therapy, Don mastered many daily tasks that are often taken for granted. For those who follow him on this path, he advises, "Never give up. Don’t let anyone else give up. Contain your emotions. Be vulnerable, feel vulnerable. Above all else, accept help from others and let go of your pride." For those families anxiously waiting and feeling scared, Don adds, "Take 10-minute breaks to enjoy life while waiting. Go to the Landing, enjoy the sunshine, get your favorite coffee, listen to soothing music. Just that peaceful escape will help you better cope and better love."

Despite loving intense sports his whole life, Don has had to make concessions and temper his efforts these days. With only 48 percent lung capacity, he is continuously aware of his physical limits.

Life has indeed changed for Don, but he has found that he no longer gets stressed out. He doesn’t take a single day for granted. He travels more and accepts every opportunity without delay. In 2009, Don will begin his marital journey. For him, this new life is about cherishing every moment.

top of page

He was known by all of his 9th-grade peers as one of the best linebackers on his football team. On September 6, 1997, Lamont’s brother rounded up the guys for ‘hitting with pads’—slang for full-action backyard football. After donning pads, Lamont received a pass off and ended up in a helmet-to-helmet lock with a friend playing defense. Instantly, he retreated and fell to his side.

Rolling slowly onto his back, Lamont struggled to catch a breath. Life was leaving his body and he could feel it. He began panicking. He couldn’t move. His family members began to gather, asking if he could understand them. He remembers his brother almost trying to pick him up until someone else yelled "No!" He kept wondering if he was paralyzed, although he hardly knew the definition of the word. As he stared at the ceiling of the ambulance, Lamont remembered he had been warned by several coaches never to hit head-to-head. He remembered a sweep of guttural fear before slipping into a coma upon his arrival at TraumaOne.

He awoke two days later to friends in his hospital room crying. He was unable to speak. He had a tracheotomy and rods and bolts placed in his head to stabilize his neck. "Everyone at Shands Jacksonville was amazing to me," Lamont says, adding, "One nurse became my white mom and is still the platonic love of my life."

It was another two months before Lamont could utter his first words. Up to that point, he had been able to establish a non-verbal language with his mom, who stayed by his side 24/7.

As with anyone dealing with paralysis from the neck down, Lamont began a rollercoaster of hope and disappointment. Despite new therapies and posed possibilities, his hopes dashed as his limbs would not respond to stimulation. Once home, Lamont was crushed to find that living at the hospital was far more convenient. Suddenly, obstacles quadrupled and basic tasks became even harder with space and accessibility problems and few solutions to alleviate the complexities.

In the first phases of recovery, his support system carried him. "You’re young, you’ll bounce back." "You can handle this." "Listen. Listen. You’ll make it." Knowing that people cared and committed to visit him got him through each week. He felt loved and valued and consumed by the stories they remembered. But eventually, during the physical therapy at Brooks Rehabilitation, the visits trickled to none. The void was palpable. This quiet showed him that there was a deeper level to living.

Lamont’s self-defined key to survival was the day he accepted reality to live life all over again. This was anchored in a paradigm shift that God keeps him going. He depends on nothing but the love of God. "No matter what comes or goes, God cares for me."

In the years of concentrated work since the incident, the limitations of his body have given way to the limitlessness of his vision and the awakening of his true power. Lamont is currently attending classes at Florida State College at Jacksonville in addition to taking online courses. His goal is to get his Master of Divinity and ultimately become a chaplain. His philosophy toward inspiring others is rooted in compassion. "People don’t want to know how much you know until they know how much you care."

For those who find themselves pacing the hallways of the hospital, he offers the following: "Always expect the best. Never give up." For patients undergoing limitations, he advises, "Learn how to use what you have, regardless of your losses. You have enough to begin again. I have learned that through faith in God, there is inherently purpose."

Today, and each day, Lamont begins a journey. He lives each day with excitement. His understanding of purpose drives him. His feelings don’t control him anymore, as his entire life is based on purpose. That purpose is to share his love for God through his remarkably and beautifully liberating transformation. Any power he had on a football field is now dwarfed by the spiritual power of his presence, his words, his smile, his example.

top of page

Even in the most mundane circumstances, situations can become critical. It was December 3, 2007, when Marilyn was meandering through her familiar monthly errands in the late afternoon. Upon seeing the mailman, she jumped out of her car to hand-deliver her outgoing mail. Presuming the car to be in park, she walked behind it and caught a peripheral glimpse of it rolling rapidly toward her. The car door knocked her down and within seconds Marilyn was pinned underneath. Thanks to the postman, help was summoned and the emergency rescue team used airbags to lift the car off her body.

Alert the entire time of the transfer to TraumaOne, Marilyn found that she had a damaged lung from the crushing pressure of the car and severe bruising from the car door. She was kept on oxygen and a ventilator and struggled to breathe. Her family watched and waited in worry.

Marilyn’s daughter, Jean, recalls the TraumaOne team comforting those waiting and keeping the family incredibly informed. The staff, as she recalls, was critical in getting all of them through that tenuous period. After a slow recovery, Marilyn’s returning passion for professional sports gave evidence that her spirit was re-invigorated. She began to talk of the flowers in her yard that she loved so much, and her loved ones knew the worst was over. Delighting her family members, this incident was the impetus to help Marilyn finally quit smoking. Encouraged by the chance to spend many long years with Marilyn, her family found great comfort in the mantra: "Where there is life, there is hope."

top of page

Despite the fact that Mark was a highly skilled seaman, a simple mistake nearly cost him his life. On September 23, 2007, Mark was offshore with friends to spend the day spear fishing. After loading his .357 magnum powerhead, he accidentally dropped it. It fired and hit him in the chest.

"With my background as a firefighter/paramedic for 29 years, I immediately acknowledged imminent potential death. I tried to remain spiritually strong," Mark says. Amazingly, Mark never lost consciousness. In fact, he didn’t feel pain initially. He guided those around him on the boat to keep them from panicking.

Once his boat reached land, Mark was transported to TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville. The situation was grave. The doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. "The doctors and nurses at Shands Jacksonville saved my life." After several operations, Mark began his road to recovery.

Today, he still enjoys scuba diving and spear fishing. He’s building his own house, gardening and farming his property. Although still wrestling with nerve damage and stomach problems, he never starts a day without gratitude to God.

Mark suggests to those facing the challenges of recovering from a serious injury, "Trust in the doctors and nurses taking care of your loved ones. They know what they are doing. Use all of your energy toward positive thoughts. Believe in prayer." After a short pause, he adds, "Bite the bullet and hang in there."

top of page

On January 6, 2007, 5-year-old Samaria and her four siblings begged their grandma to let them walk around the corner to the Family Dollar store to buy their mom a birthday present. Shortly after they began their journey, there was a loud screeching sound. Samaria was hit by a car. She was knocked unconscious. Her older brother immediately carried her to the sidewalk and ran to get his grandma.

When the ambulance arrived at TraumaOne, the region’s only Level I trauma center, Samaria had a level four brain injury with bleeding on the right side. To stabilize her head, she was placed in a halo. Her parents were told that her spinal cord injury had the potential to impair her ability to walk and negatively impact bladder and bowel functionality. Samaria was admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Shands Jacksonville for about a month.

"The staff proved to be warm and helpful in these critical days and they worked as a team," said Samaria’s mom, Meechko. "I knew people cared about my baby because they took the time to teach her and teach me. Even the chaplain who visited did so. I wouldn’t want my kids at any other hospital," she added.

Like many, this little girl was moving her way through required tests and necessary therapies—cognitive therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy. Today, she’s gregariously active, although she still has to compensate for weaknesses on the left side of her body. She sings and dances, but thanks to the influence of some big brothers, she has a deep affinity for playing soccer, football and basketball. Curious and adventuresome, Samaria’s spirit and smile gives light to all those around her.

top of page

The third of four kids and known as the "light bulb" of the family, Zyshown loved to do impersonations to entertain his siblings, filling the house with laughter. On April 11, 2004, this energetic 6-year-old strolled out the door to visit a neighbor. In seconds, he was hit by an oncoming car while crossing the street.

When his mom, Sakina, saw him in the fetal position in the middle of the road, she was overwhelmed with fear. Zyshown was taken to TraumaOne at Shands Jacksonville, and it was determined that the impact had punctured his lung, broken his thigh and his collar bone. "While in ICU, he died three times. Those medical doctors absolutely saved his life," said Sakina. Half of his body was protected by a cast and he was breathing through a ventilator. Sakina was particularly comforted by the nursing staff. "Whatever I didn’t understand, they kept reviewing with me. They kept me together emotionally," she says.

After two months in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Shands Jacksonville and one month at Brooks Rehabilitation, Zyshown regained most of his capabilities. He had to learn to walk all over again and to dress himself. He continues to strive to be just like the other kids, but sometimes gets discouraged that a limp and limitations in breathing hold him back from the football dreams he had for himself. But now, he gets to walk to the store with his big brothers.

Sakina says the experience changed her forever. Today, she’s overcome with pride for the accomplishments and courage of her son. "He’s the strongest boy. He’s more independent and confident in his own strength," she says.

For those about to face a challenge in the trauma unit, she advises, "Stay strong. God holds out for everyone. He knows what He wants done and when He wants it done. Just pray." Sakina offers daily gratitude for the TraumaOne team, crediting them with saving her son’s life.

top of page