Thank you for taking the time to hear about our good friend, Jeff! Jeff works as an RBT in ABA therapy for children with Autism. Being in Jeff’s life means always having a smile on your face in their presence. Jeff has one of the kindest and purest hearts, and is a positive beacon of light, soaking all near them in it. Jeff is an absolutely astounding bright light in our theatre world and we are so lucky to have them with us still.
This past January 9th, Jeff was involved in a freak accident on their way to work. The truck in front of Jeff suddenly lost a couch off the back of it, causing Jeff to swerve to avoid running into the couch. However, that swerve took Jeff into a concrete pillar of an overpass. Jeff’s driver’s side was wrapped around it with Jeff’s body taking the full force of the impact. Jeff sustained the following injuries: a significantly mangled and broken left arm, three broken ribs, fractured pelvis, fractured sacrum, three fractured lumbar vertebrae, a minor brain bleed, bruising, and emotional trauma. Everyone who worked the scene said Jeff shouldn’t be alive. We are just immensely grateful that this beautiful human being is still with us today.
That being said, the road has not been easy and the continued road ahead is still long and arduous. It is fraught with medical bills, therapy appointments, additional surgeries, and at the end of June, Jeff’s short-term disability will be up, making things extremely uncertain. Jeff loves many things: the kiddos they serve, their friends and family, board games, superheroes, cosplaying, being a DnD DM running multiple campaigns, and most importantly, theatre! Jeff is extremely active in the theatre community in Cleburne, Mansfield, and Weatherford, often being cast in shows for Cleburne’s Carnegie Players, Mansfield’s Mainstage Classic and Troupe Theatre, and Weatherford’s Theatre Off the Square. When Jeff’s accident first occurred, Carnegie Players had just started rehearsals for their spring play and Jeff was cast in it. Obviously, Jeff could not move forward with the play, but the company still honored Jeff on stage, sprinkling pictures of Jeff as another off-stage character. Jeff did not have to wait too long before returning to the stage, as they were cast as FDR in Annie with Mainstage Classic in Mansfield, a role they can perform in a wheelchair. What gumption! What perseverance!
We, Jeff’s theatre families, have joined together and wanted to reach out to our audiences and ask if you would pay forth the goodness Jeff has sprinkled into our and possibly your lives from the stage now in this time of need. Your support will help Jeff cover medical expenses and living costs as they recover. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Morgan Nickels, Board Member, for Carnegie Players at [email redacted].