Photo Courtesy of Alison Simmons via Facebook.
Seven months have passed since Jesse Simmons was shot outside his home after a man tried to break into his truck on Aug. 3. It hasn’t been easy starting his life over again, but Simmons is taking it one milestone at a time.
“It’s just learning a new way of life and I’m gonna figure things out … he’s not gonna take my life from me,” Simmons said. “And that’s been my attitude since day one.”
Simmons spent two months hospitalized, his first two weeks were spent in and out of various surgeries at Presbyterian Hospital before starting physical therapy at Baylor Scott and White.
Since his return home, Simmons has accomplished milestones doctors didn’t expect.
“If you look at where I started from, when I first got to the hospital, I couldn’t move either leg. Then I got a little bit of movement in my left knee and I’ve just kept working at it and getting my muscles stronger, getting the nerves to reconnect and the outlook is better than it was,” Simmons said. “Doctors didn’t think I would ever have a chance to walk again. But, the first thing you gotta do is tell me I can’t do something and I’ll do everything I can to prove you wrong.”
On Friday, Feb. 16, Simmons began crawling, moving his right leg for the first time, slowly moving around with both legs. A small step but, “You gotta start somewhere,” he said.
And on Tuesday, Feb. 13, Simmons achieved a significant milestone by passing his driver’s test with, “flying colors,” receiving his new license and feeling like an excited teenager all over again.
Despite the challenges and readjustments, he remains optimistic.
“I’m alive, it’s better than being dead. I still get to hold my grandchildren, my kids, my wife … even if I never walk again I’m still alive.”
Seven months ago, Simmons wouldn’t have believed he could dress himself independently.
“When this all first started, there was no way I could put a shoe on, nothing. Now I’ve dressed myself in the mornings,” he said. “[I learned] how to survive in a wheelchair, even though I’m planning on getting out of it.”
And that goal of being able to walk again continues to push him.
“I’m just gonna keep pushing on trying to walk,” he said. “My goal is to hopefully have some more progress by June, which is my birthday.”
Simmons remains grateful for the ongoing community support.
“Part of my motivation that helps me is the community standing behind me pushing me saying, ‘Hey, good job, keep it up,’” he said.
Since the incident, the community has raised $73,906 towards its $100,000 goal on GoFundMe, which is still accepting donations.
