Justus' Story

On December 14, 2023, Justus was riding home when another driver cut off the family’s car, forcing it into a second vehicle. The impact caused a severe traumatic brain injury, including a skull fracture that required emergency surgery. Doctors removed fragments of bone from his brain and reconstructed his skull. Justus survived, but when he woke up, he could not walk or speak.

His family stopped waiting for recovery to come to them and went looking for it. Justus spent approximately a month and a half at a children’s hospital in West Palm Beach, where he began working toward his first words. From there, he spent another month at a rehabilitation center in Jacksonville. The family then sought additional therapies and specialists beyond their local care. They traveled to New Orleans for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to New Mexico for neuro-acupuncture, and to Arizona to work with specialists in traumatic brain injury recovery.

When they returned home, the work continued: speech therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive programs, one-on-one sessions, and daily practice. The experience revealed something that is easy to overlook until a family is living it: recovering from a traumatic brain injury can require years of intensive therapy and support, along with significant financial resources. Insurance may cover some care, but many therapies families and their care teams pursue fall outside what insurance will fully cover. Sessions can cost hundreds of dollars, while meaningful progress is often measured over months and years. Justus’s family was able to continue pursuing the therapies they believed could help him. They recognized that many families facing the same kind of injury do not have that option.

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Justus For Kids exists to bring hope for families and children impacted by TBI. We hope that through hearing Justus' story you are inspired to help give hope to another child. 


Has your family been impacted by TBI? We want to hear your story, click here or send us an email:  justusforkidsfoundation@gmail.com

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Our Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

Mission

Mission

Justus For Kids supports children and families impacted by traumatic brain injury by helping them access networks, resources, and financial assistance for care. We connect families with clinicians, supportive therapies, and additional treatment options while encouraging every path forward to work alongside the child’s hospital and primary care team.

Vision

Mission

Mission

We envision a world where every child impacted by TBI has access to hope, community, and the care options they need to keep moving forward. Justus For Kids exists to help families feel less alone as they explore the many possible paths of healing, support, and recovery.

Values

Mission

Values

We believe every child’s TBI journey is unique, and no single treatment or therapy is the answer for everyone. We value compassionate support, collaboration with medical teams, access to both traditional and supportive therapies, honest storytelling, and a community built on hope for children and their families.