Thomas Page was driving with his daughter when his family's lives were changed forever.
A car accident with an alleged drunk driver in Williamsburg on July 23 left Thomas with severe injuries. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition, and doctors didn't even expect him to survive.
"He is in critical condition, and not expected to make it," Jacqueline Page, Thomas' wife, said in a post on the Town of Hurt Facebook page. "I have faith that God can change."
Thomas is a volunteer firefighter with the Hurt and Gretna fire departments, where he excelled with his certifications and classes. He was also an employee at Frito Lay.
Jacqueline said Thomas is still in the Norfolk ICU over a month later with a traumatic brain injury. He's still on a ventilator and has only very minimal movement he can do.
"He can open his eyes, but does not follow commands, and is currently fully dependant for his care," Jacqueline said. "He remains non-verbal at this time. His broken jaw is healing with no surgery."
Thomas also developed pneumonia and is being treated for it.
His struggle to heal from the injuries has been met with an outpouring of support on social media. When ABC13 released a story in July about him, hundreds of people commented their support. Now the Hurt and Gretna fire departments are hosting a joint fundraiser for Thomas.
A BBQ Cookoff is scheduled for August 27 at Gretna Fire & Rescue where the fire departments will face off-- "Who has the best BBQ?" the flyer reads.
Fellow Gretna firefighter and musician Amber Short will perform special music at the event.
"As a career ALS provider and EMS supervisor, I respond to these types of trauma calls for service daily," Jacqueline said. "Getting the call that my husband was involved in one, was definitely heartbreaking and devastating."
She thanked the community for its outpouring of prayers. Moving forwards, her hope is that Thomas can be weaned completely off the ventilator, become more responsive and be transferred closer to home.