LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
This weekend friends and family hosted
a "Bring Joel Home Benefit," in honor of Nacogdoches resident Joel Lloyd a man
who beat the odds and survived the unthinkable.
"There's a 90% chance of
mortality, which is death and 10% chance is more likely a vegetative state so
we were preparing for him to not even wake up," said Linda Lawson, Joel's
mom.
Linda Lawson calls her son a miracle
in progress. Nearly two years ago he was in car accident that nearly ended his
life.
"He went to pass a truck and
another car was coming and Joel went to the ditch and ended up hitting a
culvert and rolling his truck," said Randy Lawson, Joel's step-dad.
Lloyd's truck rolled
an estimated seven times. He suffered a fractured neck, forearm and severe
brain damage that left him in a coma.
"My son's always been stubborn he
was born stubborn and always will be and I looked in his eyes and knew that
he'd wake up," said Lawson.
Six weeks later he did.
"It was the happiest day of my
life, for him to say mom and I love you and I said I would be happy with that,"
said Lawson.
Lloyd has found success in physical therapy
and can return home but the family need to make a few adjustments to make the
transition comfortable.
All benefit proceeds will be put
towards construction cost for the home.
"We've got to replace the doors,
the floors in order to use his lift, his electric wheel chair, we need wood
floors because it doesn't roll on the carpet," said Lawson.
Home renovations are just the beginning;
Lloyd's family believes he has a bright future ahead of him.
"I'm not giving up on him
walking, he's going to walk," said Lawson.
Copyright 2012 KTRE. All rights reserved.
