ALBANY — After spending months at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a renowned rehabilitation facility for spinal cord injuries, Jeremy Teague is back home in Louisiana with his family, including to a new granddaughter.
Teague was involved in a serious car accident in February, where his car was hit from behind while he was at a complete stop, and he had very serious injuries from the crash.
Since the wreck, where emergency responders cut him out of the vehicle using the jaws of life, Teague has been paralyzed from the shoulders down.
He was recently discharged from the Shepherd Center and made his way back home, with his homecoming happening August 13th. His new granddaughter was waiting for him at home.
“He’s in great spirits. He’s got just a wonderful attitude about how he’s approaching and adjusting to this new way of life,” said Audra Adams, Teague’s sister-in-law.
Teague, although he requires a ventilator, is able to talk and breathe with the ventilator’s cuff deflated, which is something few can say who have been at the Shepherd Center, she added.
“It’s a miracle. Just all of it’s a miracle,” Adams said.
The family, along with church members and others in the community, has completed “phase one” of getting the home ready for Teague. Now, they are on to “phase two,” Adams explained.
A GoFundMe account is still open to help the family with other items that Teague will need now that he’s home.
For five weeks before Teague arrived back home, community members finalized the necessary work on the house. But now, the family needs two more lifts purchased and installed, and modifications for his bedroom and bathroom so that he can use both rooms, Adams said.
Each lift costs in the tens of thousands of dollars to purchase, she added.
In addition, the family still needs a vehicle, which will need special modifications, to get Teague to and from his doctor appointments.
“God has provided everything that we have needed this whole entire time, and so we trust in that he will continue to do this. We know that,” Adams said.
To help Jeremy Teague and his family, donate to the GoFundMe.
Original
Jeremy Teague is described as a “vivacious, funny” man — a husband, songwriter, a worship leader, father, and soon-to-be grandfather. But he is fighting for recovery after a devastating car accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down.
In February, Teague, 44, was at a complete stop when his car was struck from behind, a family member told UWK. The crash involved four vehicles, and Teague sustained severe injuries from the impact.
Emergency responders had to cut him out of the vehicle using the Jaws of Life. Within two hours of the accident, he underwent surgery and was diagnosed with a C4 Asia A spinal cord injury.
“Between his C3 and C4, the nerves in all the tendons were severed,” explained Audra Adams, his sister-in-law. “From that moment on, he has been paralyzed from the shoulders down.”
The injury is classified as “complete,” meaning he has permanently lost both motor and sensory function below the injury site.
Although fully alert, Teague can only move his head, Adams said. Initially, he was under heavy sedation, but as it has been reduced, he is becoming more aware of the situation.
Despite his condition, he remains determined. Thanks to a tracheostomy device, he has been able to communicate with his wife and family. Recently, he reassured them, saying, “I’m not going to stay like this the rest of my life,” Adams told UWK.
Currently in critical condition, Teague remains in the ICU at a local hospital.
Road to Recovery
Teague was accepted into the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a renowned rehabilitation facility for spinal cord injuries. However, before he could be transported, doctors determined that his ventilator settings were too unstable for travel. The hospital plans to submit another application for transfer once his condition improves.
Looking ahead, doctors have warned the family that Teague may need a ventilator permanently. However, they are hopeful he will eventually be able to breathe without it for periods of time, especially once he is home.
Teague will also be at risk for secondary infections, such as pneumonia or bladder infections.
“He’s not able to feel anything from that shoulders down, so if he has an infection, he (won’t) know,” she Adams said, emphasizing the need for the family to be extra vigilant to watch for any concerns.
Depending on the prognosis going forward, the family is looking at a lot of expenses to make major modifications to their home to accommodate his needs. This could include purchasing specialized equipment such as a hoist system and an accessible vehicle.
“Right now it is all so overwhelming,” Adams said.
To manage the challenges ahead, both the Adams and Teague families have formed what they call “team updates,” assigning responsibilities such as navigating disability services, handling insurance, and coordinating with healthcare professionals. This system has helped ease the burden on Teague’s wife, Jennifer.
Community Support and Fundraising Efforts
The outpouring of support from the community and Grace Baptist Church, where Teague serves as a worship leader, has been a source of strength for the family.
“There was around 40 people at all times in that waiting room, for days and days,” Adams said.
As the family’s sole financial provider, Teague’s inability to work has created financial strain. The family is now figuring out how to support Jennifer and their two children who still live at home.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launhced to help cover the costs of retrofitting their home and supplementing any disability benefits Teague may receive, as they won’t fully replace his income. Donations will also help with expenses related to his treatment in Atlanta.
The family is also working on releasing some of the songs Teague has written, which will be available for purchase and streaming as another means of financial support.
Teague’s oldest child will soon become a parent, and the family anticipates the baby will be born before he is able to return home, especially given the delay in his transfer to the Shepherd Center.
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