Rutherford Schools director shares new details about injured son, 'damage is substantial'
Rutherford County Schools Director James "Jimmy" Sullivan provided new details Thursday about the injuries to his 10-year-old son sustained during Wednesday's storm.
The boy, whom the director identified as Asher in a social media post, was playing with other children in the water that had accumulated in the street while neighbors gathered to begin the cleanup process when somehow, he "got caught in the storm drain and was swept under the neighborhood streets.
"He eventually came out in a drainage ditch, and CPR was administered for quite some time. His heartbeat was reestablished, but the damage is substantial," Sullivan wrote in the post. Asher was taken first to Ascension, and then to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the post noted.
"His lungs are severely damaged, and he is not showing much brain activity outside of muscle jerks," Sullivan wrote. "Specifically, pray for healing for his lungs and most importantly brain activity to occur.
"Asher needs a miracle."
Rutherford County Schools scheduled a prayer vigil for the Sullivan family at 2 p.m. by the front door of the district's central office, 2240 Southpark Drive, Murfreesboro, district spokesman James Evans announced.
"There has been an outpouring of love and support from the community for Director Jimmy Sullivan, his family and specifically for his 10-year-old son, Asher," Evans said. "We've had many requests for people who want to assist, but what the family truly needs right now is tons of prayers."
Like most of Middle Tennessee, storms impacted much of Rutherford County Wednesday, leading schools to shut down Thursday due of flooding.
There were also several areas without electricity and several trees down, mainly in the Eagleville and Christiana areas, Evans told parents Wednesday night
Evans also apologized for the district's Thursday closure, but called it "unavoidable." The district also closed schools Friday because of remaining road flooding concerns.
The spokesman's communication to parents Wednesday night also confirmed that Sullivan's son was injured during the storms and reported that Asher was in stable but critical condition.
"We ask that you please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers," Evans said.
As the storm passed through Rutherford County, it caused damage to at least three houses in the Rockvale community, said Pettus Read, a Rutherford County Commission member who represents the Rockvale area.
"I’ve never seen lightning pop in mid air like it was out here,' Read said. "It was a tough storm. It wouldn’t quit hailing."
The county's Public Health and Safety Buildings in Rockvale, Kittrell and Lascassas provided shelter for many people in tornado safe rooms during the storm, said Read, who's chairman of the commission's public safety committee.
The latest storm comes about 13 months after a tornado destroyed historic homes and the Readyville Mill in the Readyville community in Rutherford and Cannon counties, east of Murfreesboro.
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford Schools director: Son swept into storm drain, needs miracle
