SUPPORT DALTON’S RECOVERY AFTER CATASTROPHIC COLLISION

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*UPDATE AS OF 10/27:

After careful consideration from his team of doctors and nurses, Dalton has been discharged to go home to recover and begin the rehabilitation/therapy process. Due to the extent of his injuries, he has been sent home with a wheel chair and other medical equipment to help him with basic daily living activities while at home.

While him being discharged and able to go home is a miracle in itself (only a week post the wreck itself) his recovery journey is far from over. We are unsure of what his therapy and rehabilitation process will entail (i.e., various appointments, home care, etc.). His parents, Lynne and Chris will be his primary caretakers during this long process, along with the help from other family members. We will continue to keep this fundraiser updated with Dalton’s conditions and updates as he navigates being home and recovering comfortably. Your donations are so greatly appreciated and he will need all the love and financial support he can get during this difficult time.

VIOLENT HEAD-ON COLLISION:

In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 20th, 2024, Dalton, driving his passenger car was returning to his home in Senoia, Georgia after visiting with a friend. As Dalton drove toward Senoia on Hwy 16 he was a mere minutes from his house when his entire world changed. In a blink and without warning, an oncoming vehicle swerved directly into Dalton’s lane causing a high speed catastrophic head-on crash. The impact was so great that Dalton’s vehicle crumpled around and onto his body. His car was catapulted off the roadway landing in a ditch in a nearly unidentifiable heap of broken metal one-half of its former self. Dalton was entrapped, unable to feel his legs and bleeding internally.

The extent of his injuries were not yet known but it was clear that the emergency crews need to work feverishly to save him. With all that they had the responding fire fighters and law enforcement deputies worked to extract Dalton from the metal tomb he was entrapped in. They called for a life flight helicopter fully expecting that Dalton, once extracted, may not survive. The helicopter landed nearby and waited as the first responders continued to work for roughly 20 minutes to remove Dalton from the remnants of what was once his car. We do not know how long Dalton remained entrapped but we do know that the helicopter was already on the scene by the time the jaws of life freed Dalton’s broken and battered body.

SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER:

The driver of the at-fault vehicle, presumed to be under the influence, was arrested following the crash and is currently facing criminal charges which we understand are the following: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol; Serious Bodily Injury by Vehicle (Felony); Failure to Maintain Lane; Expired Registration; and a seatbelt violation. He has not been indicted yet for these alleged crimes; and therefore, we will not disclose information about him.

WHO IS DALTON?:

Dalton is a loving father to his 10 year old son. He is a brother, son, uncle, grandson, and friend. He is a faithful man who is putting his trust in God during this nightmare. In fact, one of the most powerful pictures from the wreck is his bible recovered relatively unscathed. Dalton is a man who works with his hands and on his feet as a mechanic and landscaper. He does not have health insurance and the costs of his past and future medical care will be astronomical.

We are asking for help in easing the financial burden that Dalton now faces. He is a strong willed man that has endured, and will endure, what no one should ever have to go through—at absolutely NO fault of his own. The funds will go directly to Dalton.

INJURIES, SURGERIES and UNKNOWNS:

Dalton’s injuries were so severe that emergency surgery was nearly immediate upon his arrival at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.

FIRST SURGERY 10/20/24:

He suffered the highest level of a spleen injury (Grade 5) which essentially means that it was either shattered and/or had a complete devascularization of the organ. Surgeons were left with no choice but remove his spleen. Additionally, Dalton suffered a liver injury that was repaired in the same emergency surgery as the removal of his spleen. Following this first surgery, a nasogastric tube was inserted through his nose to his stomach.

Dalton went from surgery into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he remained for the coming days. While in ICU, Dalton underwent countless CT scans and MRIs to assess his other injuries.

SECOND SURGERY 10/20/24:

Later in the afternoon on the day of the accident Dalton underwent a second surgery. This surgery was to place pin in his left leg where his femur was broken.

THIRD SURGERY 10/21/24:

The day after the wreck, Dalton was again on the operating table. It seemed that every time one issue was operated on, other broken bones were discovered. The third surgery was done to repair his broken elbow, his right leg and to place a metal plate into his pelvis where it was broken.

FOURTH SURGERY 10/22/2024:

Dalton was again was back in surgery. This time the surgeons were working to mend his broken wrist and top right metatarsal bone. Dalton experienced complications including an increase in his heart rate and aspiration into his lungs. Following surgery, Dalton was placed on a ventilator.

As a family, we could only pray, worry, and hold our collective breath.

AS OF 10/25:

He was moved from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and was released to a lower level floor for continued monitored care.

How many broken bones can a body handle?Currently, we believe the total number of individual bones broken is thirteen (13) individual bones (several in multiple places). Honestly, as a family the focus has been on those things that put Dalton’s life and mobility at risk so we haven’t reviewed his medical records to know the full count of injuries. Here is what we do know:

Broken collarbone

Broken pelvis - Surgical repair

Broken left femur - Surgical repair

Shattered elbow - Surgical repair

Broken right femur - Surgical repair

Fractured ribs

Shattered right knee - Surgical repair

Broken right wrist- Surgical repair

Broken right ankle - Surgical repair

Broken bone in his right foot - Surgical repair

Spleen injury (Grade 5) requiring surgical removal

Liver injury requiring surgical repair

UNKNOWNS:

We do not know what we cannot see or what we haven’t been told. Up until this point, the hospital’s focus has been to work on the trauma to Dalton’s organs and bones. As a family we are equally worried about Dalton’s muscles, tendons, nerves and whether they sustained lasting damage in this horrible tragedy. We are worried about Daltons’ recovery journey as he fights to learn a new normal full of limitations as his body pushes to heal. We are also worried about the emotional trauma that may come in waves once the dust settles.

Any donation will be so greatly appreciated, and overall, we are also asking for continued prayers for Dalton as he ventures through this recovery journey with his family and friends alongside him. A donation as small as $10 would be so helpful.