By Sarah Calams
MIAMI — Friends, family members and colleagues gathered to welcome a corrections officer back home weeks after he became paralyzed from a head-on crash.
NBC Miami reported that Miami-Dade CO Kedson Julmiste was on his way to work on Feb. 28, 2021, when he was involved in a crash with another vehicle that made an illegal turn.
“I kept on asking what was next, how do I move forward, how do I progress, because I’m not going to stay here and continue to keep crying, it’s not going to change anything,” Julmiste said.
Julmiste had several surgeries on his shoulders and spine, but is paralyzed from the chest down.
His sister said the incident “devastated our family and his 5-year-old daughter,” CBS Miami reported.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover Julmiste’s medical expenses, and the police officer’s union is working on raising funds to install a wheelchair ramp and other modifications to Julmiste’s home. If you’re donating to the police officer’s union fund, click here and be sure to specify your donation is for Officer Kedson Julmiste in the comments section.
Julmiste was able to go home on Tuesday, where he was warmly welcomed by his family, friends and colleagues.