Hundreds Turn Out For DJ Johnny Homecoming Benefit Parade
SPRINGFIELD TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Well-known disk jockey and local celebrity Johnny Gardner is home following a stroke due to Covid last August and on Sunday; friends, family and neighbors celebrated Johnny’s homecoming and miraculous recovery with a special welcome home Christmas benefit parade.
DJ Johnny and his family were moved to tears at the overwhelming community’s response physically, monetarily, and spiritually as vehicle after a vehicle drove by with smiles, horn honks, cheers, and donations. Smokey Barn News was invited to attend the event so we let our cameras roll until the last vehicle passed.
More on Johnny’s recovery from daughter Ashley Nicole: “Miracles really do happen & My father is a walking miracle! On the day of my father’s massive stroke due to COVID-19, the neurology team at Vanderbilt told my family that the chances of my father surviving the stroke were very slim. The chances were so slim that he even flat-lined three times within three days.
“In order, to increase my father’s chances of life he had to have a procedure called a Craniectomy, which is used to release excessive swelling of the brain. My father was also placed on a ventilator and he required a feeding tube for nutrition. During the week of my father’s Massive stroke; My mom, My sister, and I were called in to meet with the neurosurgeon that performed my father’s surgery. We had to meet in order to make a decision to either resuscitate or not resuscitate, due to my father’s condition.
“During the meeting, the neurosurgeon had an image of my father’s CT scan. The neurosurgeon described my father’s brain as being an apple, he said the entire left side of Johnny’s brain is dead and has no activity as displayed on the CT scan, he went on to say eventually the same will occur to Johnny’s right side of his brain and that will cause him to be completely brain dead. With that information in mind. As you can imagine my mom, my sister, and I were in disbelief. We were heartbroken. All we knew to do was pray and pray hard. Not only did we pray but our entire community prayed for my father.
“With prayer, my father’s brain cells are regenerating and creating new cells. So, what was completely black on the left side of his CT scan is now showing activity. During this COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t lose faith, because I’m here to tell you miracles really do happen.
“He is currently stable but has trouble communicating his needs due to the part of the brain that was affected by the stroke. He is currently able to feed himself and provide most activities of daily living for himself. He has one more major surgery that has been placed on hold due to COVID-19. He is unable to receive speech & physical therapy due to the cost. We are having faith that he will gain his independence,” said Ashley.
“We are head over hills with hospital bills,” Lynell said. “I have applied for Medicare and am waiting for an answer. Even though he had rehabilitation in two hospitals, it’s not enough. I’m currently doing all I can for occupational therapy. He does need speech, upper occupational therapy, and physical therapy as well.”
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