A father who donated his time and business to help a family devastated by a life-changing accident is now learning about those struggles first-hand.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Harmon, owner of All Star Landscapes, wanted to help and contacted Sunshine on a Ranney Day who united him with the Halsteads.
“I would mow my neighbors' lawns, and I’d ask for a donation of whatever size for the Halsteads,” said Harmon.
The Halsteads told Channel 2 Action News they couldn't be more grateful for Todd’s help.
“Todd was one of the very first people to step up,” said Bill Halstead, Tripp’s dad. “We were still praying that night that Tripp would pull through, but Todd was there offering to take time from his small business and family to help our family. It really meant the world to us.”
“I had kids the same age,” said Harmon. “I just couldn’t imagine something like that happening to them.”
And then, it did.
On a rainy day in Dec. 2013, Harmon’s wife was driving their children Tyler, 10, and Olivia, 3, to school in Bethlehem, Georgia. Harmon said the car suddenly hydroplaned, rolled several times and slipped into a ditch.
All three were taken to the hospital. Tyler suffered the most severe injuries.
“He actually died three times at the scene,” said Harmon. “They were going to Life Flight him to the hospital, but the weather was so bad that they couldn’t do that.”
Tyler was taken to Athens Regional Hospital, and later transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.
“He wasn’t expected to live through the night after the accident,” said Harmon.
He reached out to the Halsteads hours after arriving at the hospital.
The Halsteads immediately drove to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to be with the Harmons.
“(It was) the same unit where we stayed with Tripp for months,” said Bill Halstead. “It was hard to be there, but we knew it was the right thing to do.”
Harmon said the Halsteads helped guide him through the difficult time by offering advice.
“They told me it gets better,” said Harmon. “Each day it gets better, stay positive and do the best that we could.”
Tyler spent six months in the hospital. Now, more than one year after the accident and still confined to a wheelchair, Tyler is back in his fifth grade classroom fulltime. A nurse accompanies him.
Harmon wants his son to continue progressing at his current rate, but recently doctors significantly reduced the number of Tyler’s physical therapy hours. He worries the reduced hours will impede his son’s progress.
"The goal is to get him better, not keep him the same," said Harmon. "Some of his motor skills have regressed because he's not getting some of the intense therapies he needs."
Harmon said since the accident, Tyler has gotten much taller which makes it difficult to get to and from doctor’s appointments without the proper transportation equipment.
“To paint a clearer picture, I am currently picking Tyler up out of his wheelchair and transporting him into my truck,” Harmon writes on his fundraising page. “This process wasn’t so bad when he was shorter and 40 pounds lighter. At this point it has gotten very uncomfortable for him to be transported this way.” (UPDATE: Since we posted this story, a Good Samaritan came forward to donate a van. The online fundraiser also brought in more than $22,000. Read more on the Harmons' Facebook page.)
Tyler takes 10-15 medications a day, and still has trouble moving his arms and legs.
He's also in the gifted program at school for his academic achievements.
Harmon said his son still has the spirit of a playful 11-year-old.
“He told me a secret one day,” said Todd. “He told me he has a crush on Meghan Trainor.”
Tyler’s Facebook followers heard about his crush and flooded the pop singer’s page with messages about Tyler, she emailed the family directly. “She said that when she has time, she’ll get in touch, but we haven’t heard back from her yet,” said Harmon.
“Maybe now she will call,” said Tyler.
The two recently moved to Doraville. Harmon said the move makes it easier to get access to better care in Atlanta that was not available in Bethlehem.
Just a year after the accident, Harmon says he's a different man.
“I look at things differently now than I did before. Things that would frustrate you before, you just realize they don’t matter,” said Todd. “Every second is a gift.”
Those wishing to help can donate by clicking here.
WSBTV
