Devyn
Franklin High School sophomore Devyn Blackburn has all of Macon County and much of the region rooting for him on the road to recovery.
When Devyn’s car was struck by a tractor-trailer on May 19, he was left with five broken ribs, a broken scapula, multiple facial fractures and significant brain injury. After being airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, he was taken to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte where he has begun physical therapy. His mother, Renee Blackburn, said the progress he has already made makes her optimistic about his condition.
“He woke up this morning talking a lot more and he also walked down the hallway without the big contraption that he had to use the other day,” she said on Monday, June 8. “He is such an inspiration to me.”
He’s also an inspiration to many others throughout the community. Since the incident, Devyn’s classmates have painted their spirit rock with messages of encouragement, fundraisers have put together thousands of dollars to cover his medical costs and even celebrities like Clay Travis of Fox Sports Radio have lent their words of reassurance.
A GoFundMe set up the day after the accident currently has $7,850 of its $10,000 goal thanks to the help of 146 donors, all of which organizer Zoe Staffelbach said will be critical to getting the family through this trying time.
“We’re not sure how long Devyn will be in the hospital,” Staffelbach said at the beginning of the fundraiser. “Renee will be driving back and forth to get necessities and will need help with gas and food while staying over there.”
One fundraiser for Devyn’s benefit was held last weekend by the Naked in North Carolina Jeep Club, which invited members and newcomers along for a ride through Rainbow Springs. Participating required a minimum donation of $20, and thanks to a combination of donations more generous than the minimum and a larger than typical turnout, the club raised $1,100 in one day.
“It’s more than we expected,” club member Amy Barr said.
Not everyone who’s gotten involved in fundraising efforts even knows Devyn personally, but those who do are big fans. Samantha Bourque, who took part in the Jeep Club ride, knows him from church and hopes to see his positive influence continue after a full recovery.
“He’s a very nice young man,” Bourque said. “He’s always been so full of spirit.”
Renee Blackburn said she has felt the love from everyone she knows these last few weeks.
“Thank you so much, Macon County,” she said. “We cannot wait to be back home.”
The GoFundMe campaign is still accepting donations online at gofundme.com/f/devyn-blackburn.