Wilberforce “Will” English and his wife, Dawn M. Boughdon-English, are preparing to return to their home in Loxahatchee after he was hospitalized for more than five months.
On June 28, Will and his wife were in a horrific automobile accident while driving home from a singing engagement at a local establishment. While in route, they were hit by a drunk driver.
Will was the sole provider for his family and the caregiver for his wife, who has dementia. However, the drunk driver took that away. He sustained major injuries; a broken neck, spinal cord injuries which caused paralysis, head injuries and a collapsed lung.
Will spent the next three months incapacitated at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach while the medical staff there battled to save his life.
During his recovery period at St. Mary’s, Will flatlined three times. He finally woke from an induced coma with family at his side.
On Sept. 15, Will was airlifted to Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation.
English will be discharged from Shepherd on Nov. 24 and arrive home on a Delta flight to Palm Beach International Airport. He’ll be accompanied by his wife and sister, Charmaine Hadley.
They’ll be transported to his house in Loxahatchee by VIP Transportation.
The members of his family are planning to give thanks by celebrating Thanksgiving at Will’s home on Nov. 27.
Will is no longer capable of working. As a result of the accident, he no longer has use of his legs and left arm and only limited use of his right hand.
His health insurance runs out on Dec. 31. Because of the anticipated high medical costs, he will need financial support.
In addition, he’ll need a modified van, an in-home medical health professional and home modifications that will allow him to function independently.
For those who would like to support Will financially, a Give Forward web site has been set up. Learn more at http://gfwd.at/1wPfF3C.
Those who would like to make in-kind donations or have questions can contact brother-in-law Keith Hadley in Atlanta at (404) 788-1679 or e-mail khadley@hip-multimedia.com, or family spokesman Patrick Cousins in West Palm Beach at (561) 835-1727 or patrick@cousinslawfirm.com.
ABOVE: Will and Dawn English in physical therapy.
