Family, friends hope to help Poplar Bluff man after life altering accident

Prayer and determination are fueling a Poplar Bluff man’s road to recovery, and his friends are doing everything they can to keep him motivated.

They are raising funds to renovate a place for him and his family to live.

Known to his friends as “Big Al,” Al Gulledge was injured in a car accident Oct. 25 on Pine Boulevard, at the intersection of Sycamore Street on Poplar Bluff’s east side.

Doctors originally believed Gulledge would be paralysed from the chest down, but has since regained limited mobility in both arms and is hopeful hard work will bring more. Gulledge has spent the time since in hospitals and rehab. Prior to his accident, Gulledge worked at Car-Mart, and previously had worked for more than 30 years at Plaza Tire.

On the day that changed Gulledge’s life,“someone turned in front of him,” longtime friend Sacha Champion said.

Gulledge was unable to stop and T-boned the other vehicle.

Gulledge remembers Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Josh Moore arriving and securing his neck. The Poplar Bluff Fire Department and Butler County EMS soon arrived on the scene.

Gulledge was transported to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was stabilized before being air evacuated to St. Louis University Medical Center.

Gulledge praised Moore, saying according to the St. Louis medical team, he “pretty much saved my life.”

Champion recalls, when the emergency surgery ended at 5 the next morning, doctors explained they didn’t think Gulledge would ever feel anything from the chest down again.

The doctor wasn’t aware of the power of prayer, combined with Al’s stubbornness, Champion said.

“He will not give up. He has so much fight,” Champion said.

Gulledge spent three weeks in St. Louis before being transferred to Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, where “they weened me off the vent and got my gut working again,” he explained,

He successfully was able to breath on his own and his body began processing food.

Gulledge arrived at Westwood Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center on Dec. 16, a day shy of his goal.

“I tried to come here on my wife’s birthday, Dec. 15,” he said. “She made a trip almost every day to Cape

“I am truly thankful for the fire, police and EMS, who helped me. If it was not for them, I would not be here.”

Describing the nursing staff and physical therapists as excellent, Gulledge explained, he is moving his arms and legs.

“In my eyes, they are No. 1. I work my butt off. They know I am not a lazy person. I put all the effort into it I can. I am getting better every day. I am mentally as sharp as I ever was,” he said.

His countless friends, people he has known for 30 plus years, “come in and pray for me,” he said. “I’m blessed. I really am. We just take care of each other. I am truly thankful.”

His family has been by his side since the accident.

“I could hardly ask for more. I am lucky to be here. I am not scared. I am hardworking. I do my exercises and do what I can to help myself,” he said.

Gulledge can move his feet and he can actually push his wheelchair a little with his feet, Champion said.

“He is gaining more movement in his arms and a couple of fingers on his left hand,” she said.

While Gulledge’s job is to improve enough to go home, Champion said, his friends see their job as “keeping him positive” and to rehab a place to be accessible for him.

“He’s worked his entire life,” she said. “He’s worked after back and knee surgeries. Now he needs help.”

His friends are fundraising and are about to start remodeling his shop building, which can be made more handicapped-ready than the family’s mobile home. The first fundraiser netted $2,800, the next one brought in $1,900 and there is about $1,500 in the GoFundMe account.

While friends will begin moving things from his shop into storage this weekend, they plan to have a silent auction fundraising event from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Concessions also will be for sale.

All the money will be used to turn the shop building into a home, where it will be easier for him and the family to live once he is able to come home.

A Hoyer lift and track have been donated for the home. Cheryl Johnson donated an electric wheelchair that uses head commands, but it needs batteries.

“So many people already have donated,” Champion said.

Tradesmen with construction skills are willing to do work for free, she said.

Anyone wanting to donate items may bring them to Champion at Car-Mart Services in Poplar Bluff, Monday - Friday.

Champion said, if anyone has been remodeling and has any materials, like tile or fixtures left, they might consider donating those.

Anyone who would like to help or who has questions may call 573-727-0747

Anyone wanting to donate cash or checks may mail them to:

C/O Sacha Champion at Car-Mart

804 S. Westwood Blvd.

Poplar Bluff, Mo.

“Nothing is too big or too small to donate,” Champion said. “Many hands make light work. I just want people to know their one single act of kindness can lead to more single acts and there is no one who deserves those acts of kindness more than Al Gulledge.”