On a day that started like any other ride with friends, our family's world was turned upside down. My cousin Garrett, 23 years old and full of life, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident that has left him fighting for his life in the ICU.

Garrett was riding with a group of friends on a one-lane road when he briefly glanced back to check on them. In that split second, he lost control and went down on the left side of the road. A passing truck narrowly missed him, but it was towing a boat trailer, and Garrett's head struck the wheel well, bending in the frame of the trailer. He was wearing his helmet and all the right gear; he always does, but the force of the impact was devastating.

The people around him were incredible. His riding group stopped immediately. A bystander ripped off their own shirt to help stop the bleeding from Garrett's shoulder and neck. By what can only be called a miracle, an ambulance was just five minutes away. Between those few inches and those few minutes, my cousin is still here with us. We are beyond grateful.

Garrett has been in the ICU for two weeks. He has been sedated and on a ventilator to help his lungs breathe, with a feeding tube for nourishment. His injuries include a broken back, a broken collarbone, three torn ligaments in his neck, a jaw broken in three places, and a Stage 3 concussion. He has already had jaw surgery, with a metal plate placed to stabilize the bone. His collarbone surgery is scheduled but has been put on hold after doctors discovered blood on the outside of his lungs, another procedure he will need.

Every 8 hours, the medical team performs a neuro exam, bringing Garrett up just enough from sedation to check brain function. When they first started these exams, he didn't respond. Yesterday, they asked him to open his eyes. He did. They asked if he was in pain. He shook his head: no. They asked if he was just uncomfortable. He nodded: yes. That small moment meant the entire world to our family. He is in there. He is fighting. And he is slowly, steadily getting better.

About Garrett

Garrett has always been that cousin who couldn't sit still; fishing, hunting, mudding, tinkering with engines, anything that put him outdoors or under the hood of something. He's been that way his whole life.

For a while, like a lot of young guys, he was still figuring things out — working different jobs, exploring different paths. Then, a couple of years ago, he started at AutoZone and something clicked. He discovered he genuinely loved the work, loved learning about vehicles, loved being good at something that mattered to him. He had already begun fixing up dirt bikes and ATVs, turning wrenches, cleaning up machines, and AutoZone gave that passion a real direction.

He had just been promoted to Assistant Manager. He was enrolled in school, working toward his certifications to build a real career in automotive. For the first time, he had a plan and was running toward it. That is who got hurt. A 23-year-old who finally figured out exactly who he wanted to be.

We are not asking for miracles; the doctors and nurses are providing those. We are asking for help with the reality of what comes next: the surgeries, the ICU bills, the long road of recovery that lies ahead. Every dollar helps us focus on what matters most right now, being by Garrett's side and getting him home.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your prayers, your love, and your support. Please keep Garrett in your thoughts.