Jace Strong

On May 19, 2020, our world turned upside down in the blink of an eye. On an ordinary day in our own backyard, our Jace was involved in a side by side accident. We have read countless gut wrenching similar stories, but naively thought it would not happen to our own child. The light in our world went dark as Damon and I performed CPR on our baby. Hernando Fire Dept arrived in minutes (which felt like hours) and transported him safely to LeBonheur. His injuries include large lacerations to the left side of his face and left ear, broken jaw, fractures in the base of his skull and upper vertebrae, severe ligament strain in his neck, and bruising to his spinal cord from C2-C5. While his injuries are traumatic, we know they could have been much worse and they did not include any damage to his brain, airway, or vital organs. 

The impact to his spinal cord has caused paralysis from his shoulders down, including 3/4 of his extremities. At this time (9 days out), he has sensation throughout his body, but can only move his L leg/toes. He has received surgical repair to his jaw, face, and ear and all are healing well. We were elated to be told that no surgical repair will be needed for his skull/neck. He received a tracheostomy last week and currently remains on a ventilator. He is breathing on his own, but the paralysis has weakened his breathing muscles. As he heals, we expect his muscles to get stronger and the vent/trach only to be temporary. He is fully aware of his situation and is able to communicate his needs. His feisty little personality is still present as well so that keeps our hearts happy. We are witnessing small improvements every day and we pray that God will restore him back to the rambunctious Jace we all know and love. 


The outpouring of love for Jace and our family from our friends and community has been overwhelming. Damon and I cannot express enough gratitude for the kind gestures, meals, and continued prayers during this difficult time. This situation has been a nightmare for us, but would be nearly unbearable without the amazing support we have and continue to receive. We know Jace has a long road of recovery, but it reassuring to know that he is being prayed for and encouraged by so many daily. Our plan is to transition him to inpatient treatment at CHOA in Atlanta once cleared from LeBonheur. I will continue to update his progress as we watch our little miracle keep fighting.