Husband paralyzed in tragic fall after learning wife is pregnant
Luke and Brianna Byrd. (Credit: Brianna Byrd)
LUMBERTON, Miss. - Brianna Byrd of Mississippi was so excited to tell her husband, Luke, that they were going to be parents. Hours later, the day of celebration turned into concern when she learned her husband may never walk again after suffering a devastating fall.
Brianna, 22, said she found out about her pregnancy on July 11 and quickly called Luke, 24.
Brianna said she was working in the emergency room that same day when she got a call from a relative.
"I got a call from my brother-in-law that Luke was on his way here and that he couldn’t feel his legs after falling from a ladder," she told FOX Television Stations.
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Brianna said her husband fell off a 13-to-15 foot ladder while working as a carpenter.
Brianna's sonogram. (Credit: Brianna Byrd)
"He landed on his shoulders and basically folded in half, causing his knee to knock him out, and he broke his nose and busted his lip," she continued.
Luke was paralyzed from the waist down and is undergoing physical therapy. Brianna said her husband's T12 was dislocated.
Despite doctors saying Luke may never walk again, the couple remains optimistic and in good spirits, looking forward to welcoming their child into the world.
"I’m managing well, just doing the best I can to help and take care of him while also looking after the baby," Brianna continued.
The couple said they will make their home wheelchair accessible.
"I believe that it won’t be a huge problem for us," she explained. "I believe that he will be just as good of a father as he would if the accident never happened and that things will become normal."
"We keep our spirits high because of the baby."
The couple said they had been trying to get pregnant and the baby's expected due date is March 2025. They don't know the baby's gender yet, but Brianna said if it's a girl they will name her Paisley Anne Byrd and if it's a boy, he will be named Grayson James Byrd.
"We have been trying for a baby for a while, so the news of me being pregnant was something we were very excited about and something to make as motivation for him to push himself further," she said. "This baby really has been a blessing to us."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Luke's medical expenses.
This story was reported from Los Angeles.