#PrayforDoc

Hello everyone and thank you for visiting the donation page for Joe (Doc) Johnson and his family. As some of you are aware, Doc was in a horrific car accident on December 23, 2014. This page was created to help the Johnson family with medical and other related expenses from his accident, which resulted in multiple broken bones and severe internal injuries with extensive bleeding. Immediately following the accident, Doc was life-flighted from ETMC in Carthage, TX to ETMC in Tyler, TX. At the time, the extent of his injuries was unknown, but the medical team suspected internal bleeding and several broken bones.  As soon as he arrived at ETMC Tyler, he was immediately taken back into surgery to explore the source of his internal bleeding. After several hours of surgery, the family was informed that along with other less severe internal injuries, his liver had been severely damaged which required repair and packing. The surgeons were able to get the bleeding under control and his abdominal area was left open to accommodate the packing that was placed. Following the surgery, he was transferred to trauma ICU. Our entire family breathed a huge sigh of relief, but our happiness was quickly halted when we were informed that he had a massive tear in his aorta, and surgery was required immediately. He was rushed to surgery for the second time in one day, and our family was left to wait and worry.  Thankfully, the surgery went well with no complications! We were so happy. Slowly but surely, we became aware of the extent of his injuries. Along with the liver damage, torn aorta and other, less severe, internal injuries, it was determined that Doc had suffered: a brain bleed, multiple broken bones including two broken femurs (one of which is broken in two places and the other is completely shattered), thirteen broken ribs, and a completely crushed right foot and ankle.

 

The doctors informed us that, barring no complications, the packing in his liver would be removed on Christmas Day. Although concerned about his many broken bones, the medical team made the decision that Doc was not stable enough to undergo the extensive surgeries that would be required to repair them. The decision was made at that time to wait until he was stable enough to endure anesthesia and the surgery and the recovery process. However, Doc’s blood pressure dropped to a dangerous level that night (December 23) and the doctors informed us that he was losing too much blood from the breaks, and surgery would be required sooner rather than later. So, on the morning of Christmas Eve, he was taken back into surgery for the third time in less than 48 hours.  He handled this surgery well, and the doctors were able to repair the breaks (to a certain extent, although more surgery would be required at a later time). Although still critical, Doc was now stable, and his vitals improved. The next day was Christmas, and we all thought “what a wonderful day for him to turn a corner!” This was the day that the packing would be removed from his liver. There were no complications, and after a few hours, we were able to see him! God is good! The packing had been removed and a drain had been placed. All was moving in the right direction it seemed. Up until now, Doc had been heavily sedated and on a ventilator. Imagine our excitement when the doctor informed us that he would be weaned from both! Soon, Doc was awake for the first time since the accident. Then he was talking! He was going to be ok.

The doctor came to tell us that his breaks would still require more surgery. A plan was made to go in on Monday December 29th   to repair the breaks in both legs. This surgery would also remove the device previously placed, which was essentially holding his bones together on one of his legs. Doc did not handle this surgery well. During surgery, his vitals dropped. He came out of surgery in very critical condition. This was not what we had expected at all. A few hours later, he crashed. Doc went into cardiac arrest and his vitals hit the floor. The family was escorted into the waiting room while the medical team worked tirelessly on him. They could not find a blood pressure on him, so an arterial catheterization was performed to obtain an accurate blood pressure.  The medical team was successful and his vitals improved. Doc was deemed very critical and we had no idea what happened. They drew blood but he was too unstable to transport for any scans. So, we waited and prayed relentlessly. Finally, the doctor informed us that he had suffered adrenal insufficiency which basically had caused his entire cardiac system to shut down.  Medications were able to stabilize him, but he is now under chemical paralysis and back on a ventilator.  As of now, he is “stable but critical” and as his doctor has said, “nowhere near out of the woods”.

 

Our family is asking for your help.  We believe that the power of prayer has carried us this far. We are asking for everyone’s continued prayers and support.  Also, donations are greatly appreciated. Doc is a small business owner, and if he can’t work, no money comes in. Doc and Lisa are a two income family and they are raising their special needs grandson.  They have no health insurance and Lisa cannot be at work and at the hospital at the same time, so she has had to take off a lot from work, as I’m sure you can imagine. Doc has a long time to go before he is released from ICU, and even longer before he is released from the hospital entirely. Even then, he has a long road of recovery ahead of him including 3-6 months of no weight bearing on both of his legs. The family will have to purchase medical equipment such as a hospital bed, a trapeze, lifts (as Doc is a very large man, as some of you are aware), among other things. The bill grows by the minute every day.

For those of you who don’t know him, or don’t know him well, here is a little about this amazing man: He is married to Lisa Johnson and combined they have seven children together: Ashley, Ben, Stevie, Whitney, Jana, Harley, and JT. Doc and Lisa raise their grandson, David, who was diagnosed at birth with congenital hypothyroidism. He has special needs, and responds better to Doc (aka his “buddy”) than anyone.  He is the owner of Joe Johnson Roofing in Carthage, TX. His passions include hunting and playing softball.  He is not my biological dad, but he might as well be. Our dad passed away when we were very young, and although he didn’t have to, Doc stepped in and raised and loved us as his own children. Anyone who knows him would tell you that he would give the shirt off of his back to help anyone, and it is very true. He is one of the kindest men I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

I feel so lucky to have been able to witness our community coming together the way it has. Our family appreciates every single prayer, donation, and kind word from you all. Also, the family would like to extend a personal thank you to the members of the medical team at both ETMC Carthage and Tyler, as well as the life flight team that flew him to Tyler. Also, we would like to thank the good samaritans that stopped at the scene of the accident. We cannot possibly express the extent of our gratitude and appreciation for all of you. Thank you and God bless!