ATV safety: 'Split-second decision' has devastating effects for Trout River family

The lives of a young family in Trout River changed in the blink of an eye last month when 36-year-old Jeremy Crocker was critically injured in an ATV accident.

He's the love of my life and this has not been easy.- Jennifer Crocker

His wife Jennifer said the mistake of not wearing a helmet has devastated her family, and that she wants the message of ATV safety to be heard.

"Life changes in a heartbeat and it's just sometimes over something so stupid as just walking out the door without a helmet," said Jennifer.

Life changing accident

It was supposed to be a quick trip into the woods for Jeremy, who is an avid hunter and woodsman, but he ran into trouble with his vehicle not far from the house.

He returned home for a second set of keys, called a tow truck and jumped on his ATV to head back to his vehicle that was left on a side road.

It's possible that he may not have any quality of life.- Jennifer Crocker

According to Jennifer, Jeremy was found around 20 minutes later by the tow truck driver.

She arrived at the scene of the accident, which was only around five minutes from their house, to find her husband face down in the middle of the road and the ATV over a nearby embankment.

"When I got to the scene, he was first shaking quite uncontrollably … he wouldn't wake up, he wouldn't open his eyes," Jennifer said in an interview.

"[I have] no idea at all how he ended up in such a position. It was just a very strange scene and there were no major injuries on him to be seen."

Quality of life

Jeremy has suffered severe brain trauma. He remains in a medically induced coma and on life support at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's.

Doctors have said the bleeding and swelling in and around Jeremy's brain has caused major damage and his prognosis for recovery is poor.

"It's possible that he may not have any quality of life …brain injuries are a day by day, sometimes hour by hour situation and things change so quickly," said Jennifer, who is doing her best to stay positive.

Family strength

I keep telling myself that whatever the outcome is, we'll make it through somehow.- Jennifer Crocker

There is no doubt the road ahead will be a tough one.

Their two children, seven-year-old Jacob and nine-year-old Hailey, both have autism and require special care.

While Jennifer hasn't told them how serious the situation is, she said they know things are not quite right and keep asking for their mom and dad to come home.

"I would love to be home hugging them and cuddling them and telling them everybody is going to be OK, but unfortunately that's not the situation we're finding ourselves in."

The children are home in Trout River with their dad's parents so Jennifer can stay close to Jeremy.

She said it's best for them to be home right now and to feel secure in their daily routines.

She added that her daughter is most aware of what's going on but is adamant about not wanting her dad to be alone.

"We've had some conversations that daddy's very hurt and that he banged his head very badly … so she wants me to stay here and not leave daddy alone at the hospital."

Glimmer of hope

Over the past couple of weeks, Jeremy has made little progress.

The devastating effects of just that split second decision - and our lives are changed.- Jennifer Crocker

However, on Monday, Jennifer received a glimmer of hope when she was told Jeremy had briefly opened his eyes.

She immediately went to his bedside to check on him.

"I had said to him to please open his eyes for his daughter. I wanted to tell her that he opened his eyes and he did. He opened just a little bit,  just enough to show me he could do it," said Jennifer.

Although she knows the future is uncertain and doctors have said Jeremy may never regain consciousness, she refuses to dwell on the negative.

She chooses to remember her husband as he was: the fun-loving father who enjoyed chasing his kids around the house and just bringing smiles to everyone around him.

"He's the love of my life and this has not been easy … but I try to remember all the good times we've had — the family we've built and the plans that we made for the future and try to hang onto those thoughts as much as possible."

The road ahead

Jennifer and her family are adjusting the best they can during this difficult time and while they're fortunate to have family support around them, it's not going to be an easy road to travel.

She's been told that the best case scenario right now is Jeremy would require 24-hour care or would need to be placed in a medical facility.

That news coupled with the care of two autistic children and the added financial strain of being down to one income still isn't enough for Jennifer's resilience to falter.

"He did open his eyes briefly which we're hoping is a good sign of things to come," she said.

"It's going to be difficult for everybody but I just keep telling myself that we'll make it through, we'll get to the other side … Jeremy always said to me, 'we'll always make it through,' so I keep telling myself that whatever the outcome is, we'll make it through somehow."

Important message

While many questions remain surrounding the accident and her husband's care, Jennifer does not want anyone to ever experience the heartbreak her family is having to endure.

"Each day you hope he's going to open his eyes and see you," she said. 

"It's so common to just run out the door without a helmet — the devastating effects of just that split-second decision, and our lives are changed."