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Hernando Today

Singing For Joey

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: December 22, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Joey Burns and Cail Clark are best friends who haven't spoken in more than two years.

They used to do everything together. They were in the local church youth group. They played sports. They shared countless laughs. Joey used to hang out at Cail's house for hours at a time.

Nowadays, they don't communicate. Joey is physically unable.

"It's been hard," said Cail's mother. "Joey was this big guy who was full of life."
Cail was with Joey during his accident. The two were playing football at Delta Woods Park one Sunday afternoon in October 2006 when Joey was tackled and slammed to the turf.

His head hit the ground with a loud thud. Many of the players winced and asked whether he was injured. Joey shook it off and played another 15 minutes. He was riding in the backseat of his friend's car when he lost consciousness. Another friend called 911.

He was airlifted to a Tampa hospital in critical condition.

Today, he remains bedridden and in a semi-comatose state. He cannot speak or sit upright.

Cail's mother helped organize a benefit Saturday at Chick-fil-A to raise money for new rehabilitation equipment.

"It's been hard," she said of her son's friendship with Joey.
Cail prefers not to see him in his current state, at least for now. He wants to remember Joey as he used to be - tall, strong, smart and full of life.

"He had a lot of support in the beginning," Clark said of Joey. "There are only a handful of us left. People don't know what to say or do. It's awkward."

The day before his accident, Joey gave a rousing sermon at his church, Clark said. He was 16 years old.

Joey stood more than 6 feet tall. He was fast, agile, happy and he loved to be outside.

In spite of all that is missed, there is still one constant reminder of the old Joey. He still has that smile, Clark said.

For that reason, Joey's loved ones still have hope. They still find the joy in being with him.

"If you say something funny to him, he just laughs," said Clark. "He knows. He knows."
Kids Helping Kids is a local Children's Charity Fund headed by 18-year-old Shawn Doolittle and his sister, 14-year-old Jessica Doolittle. The older sibling studies at the Juilliard School in New York.

They performed during the morning and afternoon at Chick-fil-A in Brooksville along with five other children who are part of the club.

One of the boys emceed while the others took turns singing. The benefit began at 10 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

The restaurant donated 20 percent of its sales to Joey's behalf.

Saturday's performance was a prelude to a much bigger charity concert next month.

The brother and sister will headline a concert Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Christian Church in the Wildwood, located at 10051 County Line Road. The entry fee is a $10 donation.

The money from both benefits will go toward the purchase of a special table and lift for Joey.

"We need the equipment," said Clark. "People can come in and help with the therapy."

While Joey was a regular sight at her house when he and her son hung out together, she hardly knew his mother, she said.

Since then, the two have become close friends. Tania Burns never leaves her son's side. Her devotion and Joey's resilience have inspired Clark.

"They have taught me more in the last two years about fighting than I could have ever learned," she said.

For more information about the Jan. 11 concert, call 352-596-1388.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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