Pass the Cash - December 4, 2013: Family holds onto hope after accident

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - We don't often get to update what happens after we Pass the Cash, but in the season of miracles WAVE 3 News Anchor Dawne Gee got the chance to catch up with the Deatrick family.

It was an email from Candis Keith almost a year ago that took us to Laconia, Indiana to meet the Deatrick family. An accident at work left Nicole Deatrick with three children, one a newborn, and fear she would lose her husband, John Deatrick.

The accident left John deatrick with multiple life threatening injuries. "one of them being some head trauma and he had a blood clot on his brain which was the most severe initially. They had to keep him in a medically induced coma.  he also had a shattered pelvis," said Keith.

But the accident did not shatter the couples family or faith. We found that out after meeting the Deatricks and Passing the Cash.

John said, "Every doctor we talked to told me I wasn't suppose to live. We had many people come to us and say you wasn't suppose to live."

His entire bone plate covering the right side of his brain had to be removed so it could be replaced later.

Now, if you ask John about his injuries he will say, "my head still hurts sometimes cause I got my bone flap out right here."

Through it all they didn't lose their joy.

"We're just happy," Nicole said.

Today John is happy, healed, walking, talking and out of the house. Part of our Pass the Cash promise was to give the couple a night to appreciate each other and life. Extreme Transportation helped by taking the couple around in a stylish stretch limo. Thanks to the Galt House, John and Nicole also got to enjoy a dinner at Rivue.

John and Nicole left us an update and a message that read, "We had so much fun. It was a joy to not have things on our mind."

Since 2011, WAVE 3 News has given away thousands of dollars to worthy recipients in our Pass the Cash segment. Click here to tell us about a Kentuckiana family or individual who you believe deserves a special gift of $300. (Be sure you are registered on wave3.com.) You cannot nominate yourself or a family member.

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