We found ourselves transported to the trauma bay in 2017 after John Parker slipped on a knee wall overlooking our yard and was impaled by a black metal fence spike in the neck. With his feet dangling off the ground, he was able to pull himself off of it and stumble into the room where we found him. It was scary, and, as you can imagine, quite traumatic. We held on tight to him as he struggled to breathe and told us he was sorry and that he loved us but he would need to close his eyes and stop breathing.

Kids have accidents every day, even when we are the most prepared and cautious parents.

Thanks to the paramedics, Arnold Palmer Hospital, Dr. Plumley, and luck, he recovered. He’s had a few surgeries since and still has a few more to go.... but we’ve learned a lot along the way. He didn’t realize that hospitals aren’t free and doctors don’t work for free. Ambulances cost money. This toy drive is to help Santa and the parents of children who are struggling to leave the hospital to buy presents for one reason or another.

We can not thank you enough for rallying behind our son. This is one way we can give back to the hospital who gave our family HOPE on that scary day.