“I HAVE TWO BOYS!” They were driving to see those boys for weekly family lunch at Kate and Chris’s. It was their turn to bring the food. Morning service had just finished at Restoration Church. They made one left turn out of the church drive onto Mance Newton. Sherman was thinking pizza. Caitlin stopped and flipped on her left blinker at the intersection at Montgomery Highway. It was clear to the left so she pulled into the median intersection and checked the right hand blind spot. Clear again. The truck materialized out of nowhere and struck the passenger side at 65mph, so hard it had to be towed off of their hatchback by a firetruck. Witnesses first on the scene remember him checking on Caitlin and shouting, repeating, “I HAVE TWO BOYS! GET ‘EM DOWN HERE. I want my boys!”

Sherman is my friend and co-parent. We were married for five years, but have been friends for over twenty. Together, we share two sons, Nolan and Jonah. Sherman’s wife Caitlin and I share children, a name (first and middle), unabashed jokes about our husbands, a secret desire to make a living out of napping + reading novels, and a birthday. My husband Chris and Sherman are best friends. Every car repair, home renovation, kid birthday party, music recital, awards ceremony, and holiday is spent all together.

Our friends and co-parents were in a terrible car accident on Sunday that left Caitlin with several broken ribs and Sherman with much more severe injuries. She is recovering slowly but surely at home under the care of her mama and her three cats Binx, Dallas, and JuJu. He was airlifted from Dothan to Birmingham and is currently in intensive care. His injuries are extensive: ten broken ribs, a broken leg, and a broken clavicle. He has already undergone surgery for his leg and may need another for his ribs. Treatment decisions are being made and adjusted daily to ensure Sherman is given the best chance at full recovery.

Sherman is a barber by trade, so he has no paid time off. The road to recovery will be long and difficult, and the financial strain is immense. Sherman and Caitlin live three hours from Birmingham, as do most of their extended family and friends. With Sherman in intensive care, his support people will need to travel back and forth and plan for overnight stays at local hotels, adding to the expenses.

The funds raised will help cover medical bills, recovery costs, lost income, and the travel and lodging expenses for family and friends supporting Sherman and Caitlin. Please consider supporting them during this incredibly difficult time. Your generosity will help ease the financial burden and allow their family to focus on healing and recovery.