Colvin Family Recovery

If you're reading this, then you're probably aware of the tragedy that befell my family on the afternoon of Sunday, May 3rd. If not---the short story is that my husband (Jeff) and son (Judge) came within an inch of their lives when they were crushed by a 75 foot red oak tree that fell during a storm in Nashville. Three year old Judge suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for two weeks, all the while being closely and carefully monitored by the heroes at Monroe Carroll, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Because neither our hometown of Nashville, nor the State of Tennessee offers inpatient rehabilitation for children with brain injuries, Vanderbilt transferred Judge to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), where we have been since May 27th. Jeff shattered 19 ribs, both of his scapulas, punctured a lung, and grotesquely broke his back (sorry, but that's how it was described to us), requiring spinal surgery to both fuse his broken vertebrae and to insert a steel rod. It's nothing short of a miracle that both survived their injuries, and in Jeff's case, is able to use his legs. Because of the global pandemic, cruelly, neither Jeff nor Judge have been allowed visitors during their hospital stays. I've been living with Judge and, mercifully, both hospitals have made a couple of exceptions along the way, so that Jeff could see Judge and I for a short time...but our family having to be apart over the last six weeks with no other visitors has been very tough for us to endure emotionally. Thankfully, Jeff has since moved on to outpatient status and is doing his rehabilitation work at the renowned Shepherd Center in Atlanta, while staying in an apartment nearby the facility. We're incredibly grateful that both Jeff and Judge were able to transfer to two of the top facilities in the country to undergo their rehab work. Once Judge is discharged from CHOA and is ready to begin his outpatient work, we have rented a home where the three of us will finally reunite as a family. What a happy day that will be!

Jeff & Judge's doctors have been straight-forward in stressing the long-term therapy and care both will require. We don't know yet how Judge's young brain will heal but doctors have warned us that he may have life-long complications from the severity of his injuries. But we pray for a complete healing everyday, and we are certain that our family (extended to include you) is still living through an active, fluid, and dynamic miracle, that our precious Judge will recover fully, and will live a full and rich life, forever to be known as the boy that took on a majestic red oak, and lived to tell about it! 

In the few moments Jeff and I have been afforded alone, we've begun to get an understanding of the fallout from this tragedy, both in terms of financial expenses and disruption to our professional lives. We're absorbing the sobering reality that the cost of this unexpected event outstretches the resources we have available. This has been a humbling exercise, and one that has required us to face our hubris, and drop our pride for the good of our family, especially for Judge. We're heeding the advice given by our brother Thad  Cockrell from one of his most inspired songs; "Pride won't get us where we're going". Where we're going is home, in every sense of that word...and we need your help in getting there. It takes all the courage we can muster to ask for your assistance, even while knowing that many of you have already offered and many more are willing. It's overwhelming to consider the encouragement, love and support we've already received, and we're awestruck by the grace and generosity provided us daily, both in ways we see, and in ways unseen but felt.   

Please know that once we're to the other side of this, a "Healthy Family Together Again", and back on firm footing, both physically and financially, we'll repay the charity given us to the life-saving, care-giving, soul-enriching healthcare providers who have nurtured Judge back to good heath, sound mind and strong spirit. We'll forever think of you as we support Monroe Carroll, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, as well as CHOA. Your gifts will be paid forward, but our family will be forever indebted to the angels who, we believe, appeared to us even as that tree began to fall, and will stay with us for time eternity.