The small town of Trussville, Alabama, has proven that its tight-knit community is larger than the size of the town itself. After a falling tree struck star baseball player Grayson Pope during a storm, the community was quick to rally around him and his family.
On June 6th, Pope was enjoying a day on the golf course with his team when the storm suddenly started. In a single moment, his life changed dramatically – a tree fell and crashed directly onto the golf cart, knocking Pope unconscious in an unexpected “freak accident,” as reported by the Trussville Tribune.
Pope was immediately rushed to the hospital for examination and testing. By the night of June 7th, he had undergone multiple CT scans and MRIs, showing that he had experienced brain swelling and microhemorrhages on his brain and brain stem. Doctors say he is slowly starting to respond to pain but is not responding to verbal commands.
In a single evening, around 150 people showed up at a local church to pray for Pope’s accelerating recovery, and the next day an even larger group came together in a public park to pray and sing songs of support.
His family has felt immensely encouraged by the demonstration of care, which they describe as a source of strength as he continues his healing journey.
Emma, Pope’s older sister, shared a post on social media regarding his latest medical update. She explained that an MRI scan revealed further trauma on his brain and that there is “no surgery that can fix it.” Emma asked for prayers and a miracle, as Pope was in need of one at this time.
Pope’s Neurologist has stated that Pope will take an MRI in one week to asses where he is at. The strong and united display of support for Pope’s recovery speaks to the power of community in a small-town setting.