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Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Tim Johnson, pictured with his wife Erica.
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ST. FRANCIS —
Larry Johnson got the phone call all parents dread. His son Tim, 29, had been involved in a horrible accident. Larry, who winters in Florida, rushed home to Wisconsin to see his son.
Tim has been a Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy for four years. In the early morning hours of Jan. 12, he was on the freeway assisting with an accident investigation. Although there were flares and cones on the roadway and emergency lights flashing, he was struck by a vehicle trying to pass the accident site on slippery pavement. Investigators estimate he flew 30 feet and hit a concrete median. He suffered massive head trauma and was in a coma.
In the weeks since the accident, the Johnson family says they have seen a miracle. Tim is slowly recovering, even though doctors thought he wouldn’t last the night.
“Doctors are amazed by his progress,” said Larry in a telephone interview with your Catholic Herald. “He’s on track to get better, but there’s a long way to go. We have a lot of people supporting him with prayer. People who are not of our faith, every religion is praying for my son.”
Many members of the Johnson family belong to Divine Mercy Parish in South Milwaukee, including Larry and Tim, as well as Tim’s family, wife Erica and children, Griffin, 2, and Ava, 1.
Larry, crying tears of joy, shared the story of the day his son first opened his eyes following the coma.
“The night before he opened his eyes, they had many people in the chapel at Froedtert Hospital,” he said. “People that were complete strangers were going there to pray for my son. The next morning he opened his eyes, and that was on his saint’s feast day – Timothy (Jan. 26). That’s the day he opened his eyes.”
Tim had multiple surgeries following the accident. Larry said he can walk with assistance and has physical therapy twice a week. “He has come back and we’re so thankful for everyone’s support and prayers and we hope this continues for my son’s progress,” he said. “We all know God did this for us.”
A devout Catholic family, Larry said the Johnsons are comforted by their faith.
“With God’s love, my son has been recreated,” he said. “It’s been amazing. We credit God; we do. We’ve been told … that God will only give you as much as you can handle and I guess that’s true. Doctors have said this is a miracle; it’s a miracle to our family.”
Fr. Robert Betz, team member at Divine Mercy, visited Tim and the family in the hospital. He also administered the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to Tim. While the deputy was in his first surgery, Fr. Betz prayed with the family. When Tim came out of surgery, Fr. Betz anointed him.
“It was a very moving, powerful celebration of the sacrament,” said Fr. Betz.
Larry said he and his three other children, as well as their mom, Marilyn, have been thankful for the caring concern of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department.
“When I came back to Milwaukee the day of the accident, the sheriff’s department was there waiting for me on the runway,” he explained. “They took me right to the sheriff’s department squad car and drove me right to Froedtert. The deputies were lining the hallways in support.”
Tim’s oldest brother, Kevin, is also a sheriff’s deputy. Larry said he knows Tim has a job he loves.
“It’s a job he wants to do … and that he loves to do,” said Larry. “I was so proud of him in seeing how much he loved his job and the people he worked with. That family is amazing to me.”
Larry stressed the need for drivers to adhere to the Move Over Law, which requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down to provide a “safety zone” for emergency vehicles on the side of the road with warning lights flashing, to prevent future accidents such as the one his son suffered.
“People need to be careful for emergency vehicles on the freeway; move over. It’s so important. It’s a big fine and automatic jail time in southern states if you don’t move over. Why are we on a different page? Officer safety is so important,” he said.
A benefit for the Tim Johnson family will be held Sunday, Feb. 18 at Domnick’s Bar and Grill, 11027 S. 27th St., Franklin, beginning at noon.
The day will feature an auction, raffle, food and much more. For more information about Tim Johnson’s recovery, the fund-raiser, or to contribute, visit <www.deputytim.com>. |
