John Redman
Dalton State Assistant Basketball Coach John Redman still has a long way to go, but is making tremendous strides on his road to recovery.
Coach Redman’s mother, Susie Kirk, reports that he will be released from the inpatient facility at the Shepherd Center for Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries on Friday and will move to the Irene and George Woodruff Family Residence Center, located on the center’s campus.
The 23-year-old coach will begin rehabilitation on Monday at Pathways, Shepherd’s outpatient facility. “John continues to make significant and noticeable progress,” said Kirk. “His current rehab schedule involves 5-6 hours of rehab each day.”
Redman went through a very intense round of neuro/cognitive testing early this week. “The testing lasted 3.5 hours and the results will help the staff at the Shepherd Center fine tune his rehab going forward,” said Kirk. The test results also gave doctors the assurance that he is able to make the move out of the hospital setting.
His parents will be with him until he is released from his outpatient program. “John has made an enormous amount of progress over the past three weeks,” said Dalton State Athletic Director Derek Waugh. “That said, he still has a lot of work and a long road ahead. Please keep John and his family in your prayers.” Doctors removed a feeding tube and a tracheostomy tube late last week.
Dalton State Basketball Coach Tony Ingle has made regular visits to Grady Memorial and then the Shepherd Center. “We need to thank the thousands of people who have prayed for John’s recovery,” said Ingle. “We all need to thank our Father in heaven for answering our prayers in the way that He has. John’s recovery has been amazing.”
Redman and the family have been amazed at the outpouring of love and support. “The amount of visitors, cards and calls they have received has been astounding,” said Kirk. “John has really enjoyed them and it is clear to us that they help John on several levels. John and our family would like to thank the Shepherd Center staff, the Dalton State Community, and the Spring Hill Community for their endless/tireless support. We do not have words to express our gratitude.”
Kirk also asks that we keep the Huber Family in our thoughts and prayers. He was with his fiancee, Brittany Huber, on the way to get married in Mobile when they wrecked and she was killed and he was seriously injured. The April 28 accident was near Newnan, Ga., south of Atlanta.
Kirk said, “As they continue to grieve an unimaginable loss. John and the family would like to express their deep and heartfelt thanks for their love/encouragement/support. We all know that it is easy to lend support when things in your house are well but it is an entirely different thing to do so in the face of adversity. Their continued acts and expressions of compassion, kindness and love have been an inspiration that defies description. We are eternally grateful for the generosity, love and comfort the Hubers have provided.”