Injured Dalton State coach John Redman improving

photo Brittany Huber and John Redman

The Dalton State assistant basketball coach who suffered severe injuries two weeks ago after crashing his car on Interstate 85 is steadily improving.

Bo Redman, father of 23-year-old John Redman, said his son began to move Sunday afternoon in his room at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

He continued to improve Monday, Bo Redman said. He sat on the side of his hospital bed, waved goodbye to a therapist and brushed his teeth with help. Later this week, John Redman will move to Shepherd Center, which specializes in spinal cord and brain injuries and is also in Atlanta.

Three days ago, Bo Redman said, doctors rated John as a "2" on the Ranchos Levels of Cognitive Functioning, a scale for evaluating patients with head injuries. Two is the second lowest score, one designated for patients who respond slowly and inconsistently to sound, sight, touch or movement.

People at that level will react by sweating, breathing faster, chewing, moaning or moving. But this week, John Redman's father believes his son has progressed far beyond that.

"I've got an adrenaline rush like you can't imagine," said Bo Redman, 54. "I'm so over the moon. I can't stop talking. I can't stop yelling. I'm hoarse."

John Redman, who became a Dalton State assistant basketball coach last year, was driving to Mobile, Ala., on April 28 with his fiancee, 24-year-old Brittany Huber. The two were going to get married that weekend.

But, around 7:15 p.m., in Meriwether County, Ga., Redman lost control of his Lexus IS 250. The car swerved left and didn't stop until it hit a concrete bridge support.

A coroner pronounced Huber dead at the scene. Redman suffered cracked ribs and a skull fracture. Doctors kept him in a medically induced coma until the swelling in his head and spinal cord decreased.

Family and friends have established a fund for John Redman at www.crowdrise.com/johnredmanandbrittanyhuber. As of Tuesday night, people had donated about $10,500.

Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or at tjett@timesfree press.com.

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