Miracles Are Spiritual: Teens Honor Paralyzed Friend

Shepard Center Chris Taylor Classmates of Joe Toomey a teenager paralyzed in an automobile accident are selling a CD to raise money for his medical bills.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Fri, November 30, 2007 - 4:20 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, December 03, 2007 - 11:37 am CST

Don't tell friends of 16-year-old Joe Toomey that he may never walk again. While doctors are unsure about the Satsuma High School football star's recovery, those who know him best say he is a fighter.
"He's gonna walk again. I deeply, deeply believe he will," said Steven Lumpkin, a junior at Satsuma High School. Lumpkin's cousin Chris Talyor, who also attends SHS agrees. "They call him superman. I saw how much this kid impacted everyone around him and how big of a change it was to this town," said Taylor.
Taylor and Lumpkin, both of whom love music, wrote a song to honor their friend. The lyrics they hope will inspire Toomey's recovery.
"To me the most powerful line in the whole song is when I'm talking about God cause I know he has a religous family," said Taylor. The words: "In his hands everlasting love is like a guiding light, you see a SUV is never gonna be your kryptonite," are symbolic says Taylor.
Toomey was injured last week when he crashed his SUV on Highway 45 near Prichard. His family says he was on the way to pick up his sister from gymnastics.
On Tuesday, Toomey was airlifted to Shepard Center, an Atlanta hospital that specializes in catastrophic care and spinal cord injuries.
Taylor and Lumpkin have already raised $1,000 through the sale of their CD, titled "Miracles Are Spiritual", and they say the money will go to the Toomey family to help pay for medical bills. The CDs are $5 each and can be bought at the Satsuma High School office.

Other fundraisers for the Toomey Family:
T-shirts designed by a Satsuma High School student are on sale for $15 each and can also be purchased at the school office.
The Satsuma Football Quarter Back Club (football boosters) will have a booth set up to accept donations at the Satsuma Christmas parade Saturday, December 1st. The football boosters are also rafflying a Circa Rug (8'3" x 11'3") donated by Masland Carpets. The value of the rug is $1500.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Local