My word that I have after we reflect on it is GRATEFUL. 

There are so many emotions that come up today.  

Scared, sad, grateful, panic, anxious, gut wrenching, tired, worried. 

It started as a day that we were so happy Reese was going to visit joey at college. Within hours that day changed our lives forever. 

The panic and worry that a parent is presented with suddenly rushed in. The beautiful 911 operator that stayed on the phone with me until the first responders got to joey. Dud packs a couple things in a bag and leaves for the trip to the unknown. I wait crippled to hear from the first person at the hospital that is treating joey. I later realize that person, Jamie hill, was Dudley’s biggest comfort and support for hope for the unknown that we will go through. I pack a bag, I leave ally and Toby, crying but really trying to stay strong. My first call is to chris who I give the words that Jamie hill has presented me with. Chris goes silent and I can hear tears in her voice. All I can do is tell her that she can’t do this to me. I need you to give me some  hope and encouragement because I have a long, dreadful 8 hr drive ahead of me. 

So grateful my brother in law, dave, and dud are on their way so we can be at the hospital with joey. 

We walk in to see our baby boy. That first sight is nothing one would ever fully be prepared for. 

Cords everywhere, a ventilator allowing him to sustain breathing, head partially shaved with a cord inserted in his brain, iv lines, a neck brace, and no voice to say “I’m still here mom.”  

It brings tears to my eyes just thinking how helpless we felt in that moment. I just want to go back and be with you when we didn’t have to be in this situation. My constant thoughts were I hope my buddy can still know us, please lord let Joey get through this, please let him wake, please let him be strong and fight. There were many more but initially I didn’t know what else to have hope and faith in. 

We all know the story from here. Those first 12 days in the comma were just the worst, but showed us that we have so much to be GRATEFUL for. 

We are grateful for Reese being there to get joey where he needed to be, the first responders, the entire icu at UP Health systems, nurses who worked tirelessly to keep joey alive, friends and family sending such generous food supply to us, care packages, friends and family coming to be by our side, Drew bringing ally to the UP, joe chop coming to be our backbone, chris and chad coming to give some relief and bringing Toby, Jeff Kim Jake Hannah Mimi Willard mark debi tracy abbie Colin ian drew dave coming to hold our hands and sit with joey. I know Joey heard and felt all the love. 

We are so grateful. 

The beacon house is such an important part of this journey too. So fortunate they had rooms for us to recharge our tired bodies. They are so much more that just a place to stay. They are support, hugs, encouragement, prayers, and we will forever be grateful. 

You all know the rest of the story we went through the months after March 12 th. 

I wanted to share a quick update on how joey is doing. 

After “graduation” from therapy (November 2022) we still have a lot of dr appt follow ups. Happy to say he has had no seizures or strokes since the accident. Never complaining,  joey has done all of what has been asked of him. 

He currently is attending his second college class and never complains about having to go to tutoring or the extra work he has to do to get a full understanding. He just does it! Joey works out every day and it really is inspiring. He works for jets pizza as a delivery guy and loves it. His goal is to get back to full time college in the fall. 

I am going to leave it with the word GRATEFUL. 

Much love to all of you. Today we celebrate that joeys is alive. We are truly blessed. Please keep joey in your prayers. 

Love to all of you

Dud, Jodie, joe, ally and toby.