Support the Andersons in their recovery from a recent high impact vehicle accident in Atlanta. The Andersons are going to need assistance with the rising medical costs as well as housing and rehabilitation costs while in Atlanta.
Updates from Laine on 10/28/25-
On Monday October 27th my dear sweet beautiful daddy Ernest Anderson, Jr. at 2:57pm took his last breath on earth and his first breath in heaven. He was surrounded by myself (Laine- his daddy’s girl), Jackson (his favorite grandson and best friend), Jeff (favorite son in law), and my beautiful loving mother, his bride of 61 years and the love of his life.
We are all devastated and heartbroken, yet at peace that he is with our Heavenly Father and out of the tremendous pain he was in as a result of this horrific accident. It’s difficult for us to wrap our heads around the “why’s” of all of this. We know God is in control and that brings us comfort.
I’m so grateful for the loving staff at Grady hospital in Atlanta who made sure my mother could come to ICU to be with her heart and soul as he transitioned to the other side and what we know as the BEST side.
As you can imagine this is such a great loss for our family. Your prayers, messages, texts, calls, and visits mean more than you will ever know.
My mother Deena is dealing with incredible grief as well as recovering from her own trauma and injuries. All of your donations to the go fund me page are so appreciated so she can focus on healing and we can help her with the next steps after her long road to recovery.
I am still in shock over this as well as recovering from my own injuries. We were making plans to move them closer to us at the beach and so grateful to get an eye appointment at Emory for my dad so we could get things squared away in Georgia. I drove them to Atlanta to be safe. It was a beautiful day and Dad had a positive appointment. We went for a nice brunch and in a blink of an eye our lives are forever changed due to a distracted driver driving at a high speed recklessly who smashed into us from behind. This is so hard to make sense of.
As God always does he takes care of us and brings light out of darkness. We have never felt so loved.
Updates on October 26, 2025-
On Tuesday, October 14th, Laine West and her parents, Deena and Ernest Anderson, were seriously injured in a car accident on I-75 in Atlanta. The family had been returning to Byron, GA after visiting an eye specialist at Emory Eye Clinic when their car was struck from behind at high speed near the airport. All three were taken by ambulance to Grady Trauma Center.
Laine received treatment for multiple injuries, including staples in her head and a concussion. Both Deena and Ernest sustained life-threatening injuries. Deena suffered several broken ribs on both sides, spinal fractures, and a head injury; she spent a week in the ICU before moving to a step-down unit on October 22nd. Ernest’s injuries included multiple broken ribs, a fractured wrist, and a vertebrae fracture that required eight hours of spinal surgery to prevent permanent paralysis. He remains on a ventilator in the ICU, and medical staff are working to stabilize him enough to breathe independently and begin his recovery.
Even aside from the car accident, the past 12 months have been especially challenging for Ernest, Deena and Laine who have lost Ernest III (eldest son) in May, and Ernest’s brother, William last November. Your continued thoughts and prayers are most appreciated as they endure these hardships.
We see God’s hand and mercies. Jackson, their only grandchild, continues to remind us to “Trust God, Surrender the Outcome.” Lamentations 3:22 states ”The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” We are trusting and praying through this trial, God is glorified.
Ernest and Deena have made progress despite major challenges, but continue to face uncertainty. While the specifics of their rehabilitation remain unclear, ongoing therapy will be essential towards their healing and their quality of life. In addition to managing rising medical costs, the family must also secure and pay for extended housing in Atlanta during recovery, since they do not have relatives nearby.
Through our collective support, we can help relieve some of this burden so the Anderson family can focus on healing. Donations will go directly toward medical expenses, housing, and rehabilitation costs. Every contribution helps, no matter the amount.
Thank you for your compassion, prayers and support during this difficult time. We have felt it through your calls, texts, and visits. We will use the caring bridge site for continued updates.