A father is asking for prayers after his 10-year-old son was swept into a storm drain and is now fighting for his life.
Jimmy Sullivan, the Director of Schools at Rutherford County, took to Facebook to share the harrowing ordeal and plead for support.
On Wednesday, May 8, Sullivan's 10-year-old son Asher was swept into the depths of a storm drain amid the chaos of the storm, per PEOPLE.
Describing the heart-wrenching moment, Sullivan stated: "Asher 'got caught' in a storm drain and 'was swept under the neighborhood streets.'"
Following a frantic rescue effort, Asher was retrieved from the drain and immediately given CPR before being rushed to Vanderbilt Medical Center.
However, the situation took a grim turn as Asher's condition deteriorated rapidly.
In a series of emotional updates on Facebook, Sullivan revealed the grim reality of Asher's condition.
On Monday, May 13, Sullivan shared that Asher had ceased breathing on his own and exhibited no response from his eyes. However, amidst the despair, there was a glimmer of hope as Asher showed a faint movement in one pupil.
"At roughly 12:00PM, he showed the ever slightest movement in one pupil so doctors put everything on hold and we are continuing the waiting game," Sullivan wrote. "Blood pressure has been an issue and things seem to get worse at night so keep the prayers coming."
Asher's father had previously explained that he "had some real tough moments with pulse, blood pressure, and breathing” and “part of [his] brain herniating into his brain stem, and severe damage to just about all areas of his brain."
He added: "Despite what we were seeing with Asher each moment, we still were hoping against all odds. Unfortunately, the worst case scenarios seemed to have come true. He’s not in imminent danger at this very moment, but recovery does not seem possible."
The heartbreaking updates painted a bleak picture of Asher's prognosis, with Sullivan disclosing severe neurological damage and the grim realization that recovery seemed improbable.
Despite the devastating prognosis, the Sullivan family turned to the power of prayer, urging the public to join them in their plea for a miracle.
"Please stop and pray the hardest you’ve ever prayed. We truly need a miracle now," Asher's mother Kaycee wrote on Facebook.
The community rallied around the Sullivan family, holding a prayer vigil at the RCS District Office and donning Asher's favorite colors, blue and green, in a show of support.
Tragically, Asher's plight is just one among many in the aftermath of the deadly storm. With at least three fatalities reported and widespread power outages affecting over 200,000 customers across multiple states, per NBC News.
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