For many people, their greatest and first cheerleader is their mom - and one Michigan mom showed just how dedicated she was to supporting her son as she attended his senior football game.
Jennifer Flewellen from Niles, Michigan, was in a car accident September 25, 2017 and fell into a coma where medical professionals said they did not expect her to wake up.
In a surprising turn of events however - 4 years and 11 months later in August 2022 - Flewellen woke up and was deemed a living miracle by her doctors.
During her time in the coma, the mother of three missed her two older sons’ Senior Nights, but for her youngest, Julian, she managed to make an appearance in her wheelchair on the sidelines in late October of this year.
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This move shocked much of the crowd who assumed they were unlikely to see the mother cheering again at her sons’ games.
This support seemed to pay off as Julian went on to score the opening game touchdown and finished with 3 scores and over 100 yards.
Flewellen has been living at home since July, about 11 months after she miraculously woke up from her coma.
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Friends of the mom also spoke about how shocked the community was to see her in attendance.
“It’s nothing short of a miracle she’s here tonight for her youngest son’s senior night,” said lifelong friend Cassie Lee.
“Just having the opportunity to have her here to support him and letting everyone know that she is thriving and she’s continuing to get better, and we’re just still in shock that it’s even possible that she’s here,” another friend, Sara Macon, said.
Jennifer’s mom Peggy Means was at the game and spoke to local media about her daughter’s journey to recovery, explaining that she has recently retired and is caring for her.
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“Nobody expected her to wake up,” she said.
“We were told all along that she has anoxia and that the brain damage, she’ll never wake up, but you never say never.”
“She started them in football when they were in Rocket football, and she said, I don’t want my kids on the streets; I want them in sports,” Means said.
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And she really pushed them, and she was a big screamer. Everybody that knew Jenn, she was very loud. They (her kids) used to say; I couldn’t even hear my coach, Mom; you were louder than the coach.”
Flewellen's family have said they hope they can get her in the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids for the next steps in her recovery.
Gerrard Kaonga