Fueled by Faith. Carried by Care.

January 24th started off like any other day for experienced truck driver and recent Siskin Hospital patient Ed Jones. He was hauling a load of new farm equipment to Cullman, Alabama, and made a quick stop in Tuscaloosa for fuel, but just a few minutes after pulling back onto the highway, Ed’s life changed forever.

“I don’t remember anything after that, it’s like everything went blank,” Ed said.

Just five miles down the road, a semi-truck collided with Ed’s truck head-on, crumpling the cab and leaving him with several traumatic injuries including multiple broken ribs, a collapsed lung, brain bleeds, and fractures to both femurs, one at the knee and one at the hip. First responders had to cut Ed out of the wreckage before airlifting him to University of Alabama (UAB) Hospital for emergency care.

Ed spent several weeks at UAB, receiving three life-saving surgeries. He drifted in and out of consciousness while his wife Teresa traveled back and forth from their home in Lafayette, Georgia to be by his side. Eventually, once doctors deemed him stable enough, Ed was transferred to a long-term acute care hospital closer to home but was still bedridden.

In March, he was cleared to put weight on one of his legs and was transferred to Siskin Hospital to begin his inpatient physical rehabilitation journey.

“It sheds a different light when you have to depend on someone else for everything. I used to be able to stand up and start running, and when you get to where you can’t do that, little things become big things,” Ed said.

Slowly, Ed began building up strength, balance and confidence, making small but meaningful milestones, like standing in the parallel bars, taking his first steps with a walker, or being able to dress himself independently. Each achievement, no matter how small, was celebrated.

“Ed is one of the hardest working and most motivating patients I have ever worked with,” said Ally Dunlay, PT, DPT, his primary physical therapist. “Despite all of his injuries, he never complained during therapy and did not let it diminish his motivation.”

During his time at Siskin Hospital, Ed appreciated how his providers explained his progress in ways that were easy to understand, something that he had not always received from previous medical settings.

“Everyone here has a passion for what they do, and they are really good at it,” Ed said.

He credits his recovery not only to the compassionate care he received but also because of the grace of God, a belief he consistently shared with everyone around him.

“I remember him often saying that he was still here because God was not done with him yet, and he was so thankful for that,” said Alice Jordi, OTR/L, Ed’s primary occupational therapist. “Whenever he came to therapy he was always ready. I never once heard him say, I can’t.”

Over time, Ed became close with many members of his care team, becoming like a second family, supporting him through every step of his journey to recovery.

“I’m happy to go home, but all I had to do to see family is roll down the hall. It is very bittersweet,” said Ed. “I know this happened for a purpose, and I may never know exactly why, but I would have never met the wonderful people here otherwise.”

Thankfully, Ed not only has the support of his loving wife, but also two grown children, all who are ready to support him as he transitions to a new chapter of his rehabilitation.

Toward the end of his treatment, Ed began working with an assistive device called Loftstrand Crutches, commonly known as forearm crutches, but Ed gave them an extra special name: “Ally Crutches”.

“I have never had a patient name their assistive device after me and I am so honored! He was a joy to have as a patient and around the gym,” said Ally.

By the time he discharged on June 13th, nearly six months after his accident, Ed was walking independently using his Ally Crutches, and walking out the front doors of Siskin Hospital to the cheers of his second family.

“I don’t think I can say enough about this place here. There are two things in my mind that got me through this: the people here and my God.”

Ed, we are so proud of the amazing progress you have made. We can’t wait for you to stop by and visit your second family, this time as a guest!