Help Trey drive!
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WHO IS TREY: Trey is a Husband, a Father, a Leader, a Pastor, a Worshiper, a Son, a Brother, and a friend. Born in West Monroe, Louisiana, Trey moved to Pensacola, Florida to pursue all that God had called him to be; by attending a ministry school. Pensacola is where he stepped into his destiny and also where he met the love of his life, his wife Bethany. The two quickly started a family and served the community selflessly through their church. During a time of hardship in the family while Bethany’s mom battled cancer, the two succeeded her parents as the children’s pastors at Jubilee Church where Trey is also a worship leader and where Bethany has served all of her life. Stepping into parenthood themselves and working with children, they worked faithfully, and were involved in all facets of ministry and servanthood. Their love for people is the first and greatest quality you will notice upon meeting Trey and Bethany. Trey is an amazing musician, artist, photographer, and so many other things; but most of all he is an amazing dad, husband, and friend. Always willing to lend a hand and offer help in any way he can. The most inspiring part of all of this is that none of the above mentioned acts have stopped; in fact the work they do has become greater, the friendships have grown deeper, the field of study has gotten broader, the parenting has multiplied, and their love has remained.
The following is the account of that Labor Day weekend, The What, that brings us to this funding page and the story of how a young wife became a caretaker and a hero, and a man the very example of hope and courage to those around him.
WHAT BRINGS US HERE: On September 3, 2012 Trey McClendon sustained a life altering spinal cord injury when he dove into the swimming pool at a church Labor Day party. That evening he underwent emergency surgery to address the fracture of his C5, C6, & C7 vertebrae. After spending 2 1/2 weeks in ICU and acute care in Pensacola, Florida at Sacred Heart Hospital, he was transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon arriving at The Shepherd Center on September 20, it was discovered that his neck had been fractured again and would need a second surgery. He was confined to the bed for nearly another three weeks waiting for surgery. Finally on October 11 he underwent a second spinal fusion that included putting in two 8-inch rods and 14 screws from his C3-T2 vertebrae. After a few days in recovery he was finally able to get out of the bed and start physical and occupational therapy! After spending nearly 3 months in The Shepherd Center's inpatient intensive rehab therapy program, he graduated to their outpatient program where he spent an additional 2 1/2 months in intensive therapy. During his time at Shepherd, his wife Bethany lost her mother who finally rests after a long battle with cancer. His wife was and still is his full-time caretaker, now also caring for her teenage sister who they co-parent with Bethany’s father after the loss of her mother. With two little ones of their own, Trey and Bethany lived through some of the most intensely trying times during those months in Georgia.
Upon returning to Pensacola, the McClendons moved into the home where Bethany was raised and currently reside there with her dad and sister.
Trey’s initial injury left him paralyzed from the neck down, unable to feel or move. Over the weeks following the accident some of his feeling began to return. He currently is still paralyzed from about the chest down with no functional movement below that point as well as in his hands; however, he does have a tremendous amount of sensation below his level of injury that is increasingly changing day by day.
His philosophy remains that, “I hope for the return of every function to come back, but I will use everything I have in the process until it happens!” He has put forth great strides to regain as much independence as possible, constantly setting goals and generating new ways to self-maintain areas of his life.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP: Trey is in need of a wheelchair accessible van. He currently transfers in and out of his wheelchair to and from the van multiple times a day. This requires the assistance of his wife Bethany, who physically assists Trey with transfers as well as loading and unloading an 80+lb wheelchair by herself. This has become trying at times, and it also is another place where he is not independent. This vehicle would not only give him the ability to drive his chair straight into the van by himself, but also give him the ability to drive behind the wheel! He enrolled in college in January of this year to pursue his goal of working as a licensed counselor in the years to come. He hopes to use his experience of this injury, and previous life testimony to continue making a difference in the world around him. They have made the best of the vehicle they currently have, but now is the time for them to have a vehicle that will best suit their family, as well as give Trey the ultimate independence of driving and self-transportation. Initial fundraising has gotten us to a place where we just have a small gap to close up. Please consider giving into fertile ground that will reap benefits for many years to come! All funds will go towards the purchase of a van for the McClendon family including closing fees like tax, title, tag, and license. Any excess funds will go towards securing the cost of their automobile insurance as well as towards the purchase of some at home exercise and rehabilitation equipment for Trey. Any and every gift is greatly appreciated.
The following is the account of that Labor Day weekend, The What, that brings us to this funding page and the story of how a young wife became a caretaker and a hero, and a man the very example of hope and courage to those around him.
WHAT BRINGS US HERE: On September 3, 2012 Trey McClendon sustained a life altering spinal cord injury when he dove into the swimming pool at a church Labor Day party. That evening he underwent emergency surgery to address the fracture of his C5, C6, & C7 vertebrae. After spending 2 1/2 weeks in ICU and acute care in Pensacola, Florida at Sacred Heart Hospital, he was transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon arriving at The Shepherd Center on September 20, it was discovered that his neck had been fractured again and would need a second surgery. He was confined to the bed for nearly another three weeks waiting for surgery. Finally on October 11 he underwent a second spinal fusion that included putting in two 8-inch rods and 14 screws from his C3-T2 vertebrae. After a few days in recovery he was finally able to get out of the bed and start physical and occupational therapy! After spending nearly 3 months in The Shepherd Center's inpatient intensive rehab therapy program, he graduated to their outpatient program where he spent an additional 2 1/2 months in intensive therapy. During his time at Shepherd, his wife Bethany lost her mother who finally rests after a long battle with cancer. His wife was and still is his full-time caretaker, now also caring for her teenage sister who they co-parent with Bethany’s father after the loss of her mother. With two little ones of their own, Trey and Bethany lived through some of the most intensely trying times during those months in Georgia.
Upon returning to Pensacola, the McClendons moved into the home where Bethany was raised and currently reside there with her dad and sister.
Trey’s initial injury left him paralyzed from the neck down, unable to feel or move. Over the weeks following the accident some of his feeling began to return. He currently is still paralyzed from about the chest down with no functional movement below that point as well as in his hands; however, he does have a tremendous amount of sensation below his level of injury that is increasingly changing day by day.
His philosophy remains that, “I hope for the return of every function to come back, but I will use everything I have in the process until it happens!” He has put forth great strides to regain as much independence as possible, constantly setting goals and generating new ways to self-maintain areas of his life.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP: Trey is in need of a wheelchair accessible van. He currently transfers in and out of his wheelchair to and from the van multiple times a day. This requires the assistance of his wife Bethany, who physically assists Trey with transfers as well as loading and unloading an 80+lb wheelchair by herself. This has become trying at times, and it also is another place where he is not independent. This vehicle would not only give him the ability to drive his chair straight into the van by himself, but also give him the ability to drive behind the wheel! He enrolled in college in January of this year to pursue his goal of working as a licensed counselor in the years to come. He hopes to use his experience of this injury, and previous life testimony to continue making a difference in the world around him. They have made the best of the vehicle they currently have, but now is the time for them to have a vehicle that will best suit their family, as well as give Trey the ultimate independence of driving and self-transportation. Initial fundraising has gotten us to a place where we just have a small gap to close up. Please consider giving into fertile ground that will reap benefits for many years to come! All funds will go towards the purchase of a van for the McClendon family including closing fees like tax, title, tag, and license. Any excess funds will go towards securing the cost of their automobile insurance as well as towards the purchase of some at home exercise and rehabilitation equipment for Trey. Any and every gift is greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Maria Clara Carvalho Cohan
Organizer
Pensacola, FL
Trey McClendon
Beneficiary