MANSFIELD – One year ago today, everything changed for 17-year-old Deondre Jones and his family.
On June 24, 2017, Deondre – affectionately known as “Dre” – was getting up from the breakfast table at his family home when he collapsed. Within 24 hours, he was paralyzed from the neck down on his left side. Within 48 hours, he was paralyzed on both sides.
Dre was transported to Riverside Hospital in Columbus, and during his 30-day stay at the hospital he was diagnosed with a rare virus called transverse myelitis, which causes inflammation of both sides of one section of the spinal cord. Doctors described it as modern-day polio. There is no cure.
But that didn’t stop a handful of Dre’s supporters from gathering at The Silver Lining Group on Sunday to pray for a miracle. Led by Alisha Lawrence, director of behavior support services at The Silver Lining Group, those gathered prayed for healing and health, and gave thanks for the health improvements Dre has made in the year since he became sick.
“He went from always being healthy and never being sick, to this,” Lawrence said.
Today, the now 18-year-old Dre lives at The Good Shepherd Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, a long-term care facility in Ashland. The inflammation in his spine has decreased, but there has been damage: he is hooked up to a ventilator, and he is autistic and non-verbal but is slowly gaining some movement.
“He has his ups and downs,” said Stephanie Sanders, a behavioral consultant at The Silver Lining Group who works with Dre. “He’s able to eat full meals now, and he likes to be in his chair. Mom knows every grunt like the back of her hand.”
Sanders noted because Dre is limited in movement and has challenges communicating through use of an iPad, they are looking to get him a communication device that follows his eye movements.
Dre’s mother, Margaret Davis, spent her Sunday with Dre at The Good Shepherd but communicated via text with the prayer group gathered in Mansfield. She has gone through her fair share of challenges as well – after running out of family medical leave, Davis was terminated from her job and is unable to work due to Dre’s needs.
In addition to prayers, Sunday’s vigil also served as a way to communicate the need for donations to Dre and his mother. While financial donations are always accepted, other ways to help include gas cards, gift cards to McDonald’s – the place of Dre’s favorite smoothies – or even facilitating a visit from LeBron James.
“I think if LeBron James walked into his room, he would freak out,” said Sanders with a laugh.
For more information about donations for Dre and his family, contact The Silver Lining Group at 419-747-4122 or Debbie Melching at 419-589-8762.
More than anything, Sunday’s prayer vigil was a reminder to cherish life and loved ones, because you never know what the next day may bring. For Dre, there is no prognosis for his condition – he’s simply taking things day by day, waiting for a miracle.
“There’s typically not much of a survival rate, but he’s a fighter,” Lawrence said. “He’s a miracle.”
