Daniel with his parents, Amy and Mike Hood
By Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
On Thursday, January 16, Daniel Hood was involved in a tragic near head-on collision just outside Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Daniel was with us here in Houston from July 2022 until January 2024. He was 17 years old when he first came to us. He did very well here and impressed the staff with his maturity and strong work ethic.
In the collision, Daniel sustained a life-threatening injury to his brain as well as fractures to both ankles. He was life-flighted to Tulsa where he underwent an emergency craniectomy to relieve the pressure on his brain. He also received a tracheotomy and days later, double ankle surgery. After being in the St. John’s Hospital ICU for 19 days, he was moved to a long-term acute care unit in Tulsa for 21 days.
Daniel after surgery
Daniel before the accident
On Monday, February 24, Daniel was flown to Denver to enter Craig Hospital, which specializes in brain trauma and spinal injury recovery. They immediately began extra scans and therapies. Through OT, PT, speech and other therapies, they continue to help Daniel’s brain heal. Since the accident, Daniel has struggled through pneumonia and other concerns that delayed the surgery to replace the portion of the skull that had been removed. Just last week this surgery was finally completed. His mom and dad, who adopted Daniel as an infant from China, have had their worlds turned upside down, yet their testimonies of God’s strength and faithfulness have been wonderful to follow.
Daniel needs a miracle, or maybe that string of miracles we talk about. He has yet to fully regain consciousness. After three months he is unable to focus or control his movements, bladder or bowels. Without those miracles, his family is facing enormous challenges and many hard decisions.
It is hard to imagine Daniel—the wonderful, active and hard-working young man we had here with us—now so broken and in need of healing. Will you commit to praying for Daniel and his parents, Mike and Amy Hood? Will you help us bombard heaven with our petitions for healing and restoration? Will you pray with us?
Click the button below to designate a financial gift for Daniel’s family, or follow his story here.
