EVERYDAY
On the afternoon of March 1, Bill Redmond, 58, and his friend Rick decided to take a motorcycle ride to Roswell to shop for a bike for Bill, something that he had been wanting since the COVID-19 isolation days. On the return ride to Woodstock, their motorcycle was T-boned by a vehicle on Jamerson Road. The two men were ejected from the bike and sustained serious injuries. “I was in Pittsburgh on a work trip when I received a call from Bill,” said Cheryl, Bill’s wife. “It was odd, because Bill knows that I cannot answer my phone when I am in meetings. However, the voicemail message received was not from Bill. Someone at the scene of the accident had used his phone to notify me of what had happened. They were waiting on the ambulance to arrive, and Bill was unable to speak. Paramedics transported Bill to [Wellstar] Kennestone Hospital, a Level II trauma center. “Helpless, in another state, I immediately called my 22-year-old daughter, who is a senior nursing student at KSU. She left class to meet Bill at the hospital, along with another close family friend. Our son, Jake, 25, serves in the Army and was scheduled to be deployed the very next day. Unsure of the outcome, I knew I needed to inform Jake before he left. I am thankful to the Army and the American Red Cross for allowing Jake to return home to be with his father. Meanwhile, I got home as quickly as possible.” Bill arrived in the emergency room with internal bleeding, a broken pelvis, fractured spine, broken ribs, crushed urethra, severe nerve damage and road rash. Bill’s injuries required seven surgeries, and he was on a ventilator for 12 days. “Although the road ahead is long, we are thankful he 36
AROUND CANTON | June 2022
Bill, Cheryl, Jake and McKenna Redmond.
is with us. It could have been much worse,” Cheryl said. On April 8, Bill was transferred to the Shepherd Center for recovery and rehabilitation. Sepsis and infection initially slowed his progress, but Bill continues to recover and must remain at Shepherd for three months. Assuming all goes as planned, Bill will return home, but will need extensive in-home care and rehabilitation. The doctors believe he can recover and walk, but it could take up to 18 months. Bill’s friend, Rick, also survived the crash, but sustained similar trauma, as well as a brain injury that he is recovering from. It also will take time. The Redmond family has lived in and served the Woodstock community for 29 years. Bill is a business owner, often working 12hour days, while Cheryl works full time in commercial real estate. Cheryl now finds herself in the role of sole provider, with mounting medical bills and unlimited rehabilitation ahead.
“This isn’t exactly how we planned out our empty nesting years, but we are so grateful that Bill’s life was spared that day. We are thankful to our wonderful community, family and friends who have helped us so far, and we plan to pay it forward as soon as we are able,” she said. Close friends shared Bill’s story with Everyday Angels, in hopes of rallying our community around the Redmond family during this time. They also have created a GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/f/helpus-get-bill-home?qid=740b2b9eb1a7 752603fa202ff4aee727. Friends have planned fundraising events at local establishments. “You are helping one of the most loving, kind and generous families you will ever know or wish you did,” said Amy, a friend. Everyday Angels will accept monetary donations to offset medical costs or gas cards to help with the daily commute to the Shepherd Center for this sweet family. We are thankful for your prayers.
Everyday Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. To make a tax deductible donation, visit www.everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal, or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. If you know of a special need in our community, email aaeverydayangels@gmail.com.
