An SUV smashed into Raven Winston’s car as she drove to pick up her son, De’Lon Jackson, from football practice at Charles Drew High School. The crash occurred on July 29 as she was trying to turn into the high school.
“I got struck really hard by an SUV and was spinning around,” Winston told Atlanta News First. “I could barely breathe from the compression of the airbags.”
The Charles Drew High School student hurried to assist his mother on the street right away. Unfortunately, after guaranteeing his mother’s safety with Steve Robinson, his head coach, the 15-year-old was also hit by a car.
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His mother said, “He was laying in the middle of the street, his leg was hanging off and twisted in many ways. It was the worst day of my life.”
Jackson’s left foot was saved, but his right leg was amputated at the scene of the incident. He has endured six operations already, and he has been healing at Grady Memorial Hospital over the past few days.
“He’s Superman to everyone else but silently he cries. He’s a 15-year-old teen boy whose entire life has changed,” Winston said.
Robinson, his head coach, informed the publication that the team will pay respect to their friend during the forthcoming football season.
He said, “He’s a real hero, I can’t tell you how big that was. That kid put himself in a dangerous position to take care of his mom.”
Grady Hospital has Jackson scheduled for his seventh operation. A $100,000 goal has been set by an online campaign that was set up to assist with the teen’s numerous medical costs; thus far, $10,203 has been donated.
Though his desire to play in the NFL has turned futile, he does not regret his sacrifice.
He told WXIA, “I love her to death. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
His mother told 11Alive, “Just right now, taking care of him and my other two children. He’s going to be here another week and a half, and when he leaves here, he’s going to have to go to CHOA for rehabilitation.”
