ELDORADO (WSIL) � Life can change in an instant, as Joey Etienne is well aware of, after being involved in a life-altering car wreck.
It started off as a normal Saturday night, when Joey Etienne and a couple friends went for a quick food run before a planned night full of video games.
"Me and my friends were at McDonald’s, getting something to eat obviously, and we crossed the highway to go to Hucks. We were going to go back to my house and play some Madden," said Etienne.
Those plans changed quickly as the car Etienne was riding was T-Boned by another driver. Joey’s friends in the front seats sustained minor injuries, but Joey was unbuckled in the back seat. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, along with broken ribs, and damaged organs, leaving him unresponsive at the scene.
"I didn’t know what condition he was in. I think that was the absolute worst part, is receiving a phone call, and not knowing what condition he was in, other than he was unresponsive," said Joey’s mother, Beth Fletcher.
Etienne finally started showing signs of responsiveness and eventual improvement. That was just the start of a long road to recovery.
The Eldorado teen pretty much needed to start from scratch, learning daily activities once again.
"The first step was like talking and stuff again. I didn’t start talking until I was at Ranken Jordan, which is a hospital in St Louis. It’s like a therapy hospital," said Etienne.
Not long after he was talking, Etienne hit rehab hard, keeping his eyes on the prize the entire time.
"He’s a really hard worker. So he kind of overachieves with everything that we’re trying to do with him, even when I try to hold him back a little bit," said Eldorado athletic trainer Howard Mann.
"He’s a fighter. I knew the night I saw him in the emergency room that he was going to fight. He’s always been so active and driven. He is a very, very driven person," said Fletcher.
That drive had earned him leadership roles on the football team, where he spent his junior season as the Eagles starting center.
"Well he was voted a captain in the off-season as a senior, so that should demonstrate his leadership skills. Just a hardworking individual with a great attitude on life, and a great attitude towards football. I was glad to coach him," said Eldorado head football Joe Clark.
Unfortunately, football won’t be in the cards for Etienne after he’s done with rehab, but he’s still holding out for his return to sports before the end of his senior year.
"It stinks I can’t play anymore. I’m just hoping to play baseball next year, but I don’t know," said Etienne.
"There’s still some things that he could do, and still maybe return or whatever. And as quick as he’s kind of rehabbed to this point, I don’t know what’s going to be for him in the next five or six months because he might surprise us again still," said Mann.
Despite missing out on his senior season of football, Etienne maintains a positive attitude, and even hopes to still make an impact for the team this fall.
"Teaches you what to appreciate and how to appreciate life, and the people you try to serve as a coach, and more importantly, the people that you serve, and I’m just fortunate that he’s in the position that he is in. We’re glad to have him however he can help. I think he wants my job so, good luck," said Clark.
"I’m going to be the coach, Coach Clark better watch out," said Etienne.
The aspiring coach already has the first entry in his playbook.
"Wear your seat belt, and never give up, take every day day-by-day� Don’t take every day for granted, be appreciative of every day you get because everything can change in a second," said Etienne.
