Having lived in South Carolina our entire lives, we had always heard of Happy Wheels, but it wasn't until January of this year that we were formally introduced. On the night of January 17th, we received the call that every parent of a teen driver dreads: our son, Josh, just shy of turning 18, had been in a serious car accident. He suffered a significant traumatic brain injury (TBI) and vertebral fractures. Miraculously, Josh began showing signs of recovery almost immediately.

Just 10 days after the accident, Josh was transferred to the rehabilitation unit at the children's hospital. Though he didn't seem quite like himself, we chalked it up to the exhaustion from a long day-being transferred to a new unit, going through physical and occupational therapy, and the lingering effects of the brain bleed. His cognitive function was still recovering, so communication was challenging at times. However, that afternoon, we received devastating news: Josh had suffered a major setback. A new, severe brain bleed had developed (a Deep Post-traumatic Cerebral Hypertensive Hemorrhage, or DPTH). This rare and life-threatening complication left us with few options. The only course of action was an emergency surgery to install an irrigation system in his brain to break up the blood clots and restore circulation.

After celebrating his 18th birthday in the PICU and weeks of intense care, Josh was once again transferred to the rehab unit. Miraculously, he was on the mend again.

Being in a hospital is exhausting for anyone, but especially for a young patient. That's where Happy Wheels came in. Their volunteers would zip around the hospital, spreading cheer wherever they went. At first, Josh, being a teenager, wasn't sure he was interested. But Happy Wheels didn't give up on him. They continued to make their rounds, never overlooking Josh. Slowly, he began picking out items for himself. One day, he picked a stuffed animal-a skunk. It wasn't until later that he noticed the skunk's birthday tag was the same as his! That small, joyful coincidence made all the difference.

Happy Wheels is a simple but powerful way to bring a smile to a child's face, no matter their age. And in times like these, those smiles mean everything. After 66 long days in the hospital, Josh was finally discharged. He continues to work hard every day, maintaining a positive attitude and giving 100%. His road to recovery is still long, but he approaches each challenge with determination and strength. Josh is truly a walking miracle, and we are so excited to watch him graduate as a senior from Lexington High School this May.

We are beyond grateful for Happy Wheels and their dedication to making a difference in the lives of kids like Josh. They never gave up on him, reminding us to cherish each smile, no matter how small, in the face of adversity.