Tramautic Brain Injury Fund for Joseph Huggins, Jr

We wanted to mention that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Via the CDC: "Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. From 2006 to 2014, the number of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths increased by 53%. In 2014, an average of 155 people in the United States died each day from injuries that include a TBI."


On February 6th, 2020 my father Joseph Huggins, Jr. (66) suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) (2 subdural hematomas) as a result of an injury/fall in Yemassee, South Carolina. As a result of his TBI he was airlifted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Trident Trauma Hospital in Charleston, SC for the majority of the month of February and would eventually be moved from their ICU to the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) and now to Roper Rehabilitation Hospital in Charleston where he has been receiving acute rehabilitation for his TBI. Within this time, I have been his next of kin and making all the medical decisions for his behalf pertaining to surgeries ranging from a tracheostomy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, a neck brace for torn ligaments, an inferior vena cava (IVF) filter to prevent deep vein thrombosis, and rehabilitation hospital options within his recovery.


My father has made significant progress thus far within his occupational therapy/speech, activities for daily living (ADL), and physical therapy. I've witnessed his miraculous recovery first hand and have been truly amazed at his ability to be resilient despite the odds of his injury working against him. Currently, his tracheostomy tube has been fully removed, his PEG tube and neck brace will be removed shortly since he is able to eat normally and has had his ligaments heal, and he has not suffered from any deep vein thrombosis occurrences. He is able to greet, speak/laugh, walk with the assistance of a rolling walker, use a manual wheelchair, and feed himself. He has Anterograde Amnesia which affects his ability to create new memories. His long term memory is intact which is a huge blessing. He is able to recognize family, friends and other past memories. He will require more rehabilitation in sub-acute and long term care.


I'm currently still in Charleston, SC and have been for the past week. I have been there every step of the way with my immediate family (my sister, Crystal & my mother, Mary), Andrew and extended family and I’ve been traveling up to Charleston frequently to coordinate care all while trying to wrap up my time in my 4th year at UNC Charlotte's Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Program. Needless to say, this has been an extremely challenging and costly time for myself as a full time graduate student and my family given the nature of what has been happening with the current pandemic. I’ve been having to advocate for his medical services given the nature of the current climate in society. My faith in God has played a huge role in maintaining hope and optimism during these times and will continue to aid the journey ahead with my father.


My family and I welcome any donations that can aid in my ability to allocate continued care and rehabilitation services for my father as he works to recover from his TBI and to move past his concerns with substance misuse. My father is a skilled artist, avid tennis and basketball lover and lover of all things with technology. Despite him being provided by Medicare, Social Security Insurance, and Medicaid his current insurance options are limited and the open enrollment period to update his coverage is later in this year which presents a challenge to find him quality medial care now. The family hopes that he can continue his post TBI recovery and live a full life.


Marie, Crystal, Mary and the Huggins family