Sam Ferguson of Cornelia was still in a coma at press time Tuesday, but his condition has improved as community members have prayed for him.
More than two weeks after a near-fatal car crash, Sam Ferguson started fully breathing on his own again.
Ferguson, 23, of Cornelia was involved in a crash in Lumpkin County on Oct. 30 that put him into a coma, where he has been ever since. During his treatment at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, he has had a strong prayer group behind him.
Bob Ferguson, Sam’s father, said his son has been slowly gaining ground, breathing more and more and having the life support machine do less, until finally taking over fully Monday afternoon.
“We are just waiting, hoping and praying for a miracle,” Bob said.
Beyond his loving family – parents Bob and Sandi, along with brothers Rob and Ben – the community has rallied around him as he has fought for survival.
“It has been humbling and overwhelming how many cards, texts, emails and phone calls we have received,” Bob said. “In our weakest moments, we can feel the prayers of the people.”
Sam graduated from Habersham Central High School in 2017 and went on to study at the University of North Georgia and Middle Georgia State.
The prayers for Sam have not only come locally, but across the internet and literally worldwide. His walls in his hospital room are covered with cards and Bible verses, along with other words of encouragement.
On Nov. 3, there were more than 70 people outside the hospital in Gainesville praying for him and hoping for good news. Sam spent many days sedated and unresponsive, and it was not until 11 days after the wreck that his eyelashes twitched.
“It was an involuntary movement, but we will take anything God gives us,” family friend Kathy Fairbairn said on Facebook Nov. 9. “We believe in miracles and Sam WILL be walking in the miraculous power of God.”
One prayer group the family is acquainted with left for Israel two weeks ago, and Sam’s name was placed at the Wailing Wall for prayers.
On the afternoon of Oct. 30, two cars crashed on State Road 52 in Lumpkin County near Jericho Lane.
Sam’s Mazda B3000 pickup truck was traveling east on State Road 52 going around a curve to the right. A Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling the other direction, and Georgia State Troopers said Sam was traveling too fast for the wet conditions of the roadway. He lost control of his vehicle and traveled across all lanes into the path of the Ford F-150. The vehicles collided, then struck the guardrail on the north shoulder of SR 52.
The Ford F-150 was driven by Ellie Morgan Lacey, 27, of Dahlonega. She was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville with non-life threatening injuries.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Sam and his family at https://bit.ly/3wSQ6W3.