CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – An 18-year-old Clay County man is recovering after a fall that left him with a severe brain injury, his mother said.
Melissa Elsberry said her son, Jerry Elsberry III, known to family as “Bubba,” was injured Saturday after jumping on the hood of a friend’s car. The friend accelerated and then braked suddenly, and he fell, hitting the back of his head, she said.
“The first three days were rough,” Elsberry said. “You know fighting for his life. Just last night, he finally opened his eyes and made eye contact with me.”
Elsberry said doctors removed a blood clot and part of his skull and installed a drain after the severe brain bleed.
Elsberry shared photos of her son in his current state. She said seeing him in that condition has been heartbreaking, but said some relief came when he opened his eyes.
“It was just as good as it was hearing his first cry when he was born,” She said. “That was the biggest relief. He was still there.”
Before the accident, Elsberry III was often smiling, helped care for his six younger siblings and was musically inclined, his mother said.
A family friend, Courtney Cisneros, is organizing a raffle of her cleaning services to help with mounting bills. “Just keep thinking about him, praying for him and hoping for the best,” Cisneros said.
The family is asking the community for prayers and support as Jerry continues to recover.
Information on how to help the family can be found below.