- April 19, 2024
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Beth Boyles holds up a Caleb Strong shirt, designed by Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Beth Boyles visits Caleb Struble at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach two days after he was injured. Courtesy photo
Micheal, Caleb, Betty and Byron Struble go on a New Year's Day outing to the Chatahoochee National Recreation Area. Courtesy photo
Flagler Beach lifeguards visit Caleb Struble at Halifax Medical Center shortly after his injury. Courtesy photo
Caleb Strong wrist bands. Photo by Brent Woronoff
When Beth Boyles received a phone call in July from her friend, Betty Struble, she went into "go-mode."
Struble relayed devastating news. Her son, Caleb, 17, fractured two vertebrae in his neck July 19 when he dove into a shallow sandbar off Flagler Beach during lifeguard practice. The accident would change the Strubles' lives. The phone call began a mission for Boyles.
"In my gut, I knew it was going to be life-changing," Boyles said. "I thought about what can I do to help them. I knew it was going to be a long-term thing, so I just kind of went into that go-mode."
"Beth (Boyles) should be recognized. She has been a tremendous help with everything since Caleb's accident. She contacted us shortly after his injury and asked if she could start a GoFundMe for our family, and she has handled press related to Caleb's injury and she has gotten Flagler Beach and Tortugas (Florida Kitchen & Bar) involved to support our family as well. These efforts have made it possible for us to stay with our son during his rehab in order to help him through this."
BETTY STRUBLE
She started by retrieving their mail and taking care of their cats. When the extent of Caleb's injuries became known, Boyles began a GoFundMe page for the family. She reached out to business owners, and to local non-profit, Flagler Strong, which held a silent auction for Caleb and his family in August. With her help, Tortugas Florida Kitchen & Bar held another silent auction and fundraiser in November.
Boyles began relaying updates from Caleb's parents, Betty and Michael, on the Flagler Beach for Friends Facebook page. She has been posting every day or every other day for the past five months on the group page. The group has over 23,000 members and Boyles' posts frequently garner over 1,000 reactions and comments.
"The first couple of months I got chills with all the messages and support, all the people reaching out," she said. "For three days around Thanksgiving I didn't post anything, and I got all these messages, 'What's going on with Caleb?' He has a huge following."
Caleb, a senior at Matanzas High School, fractured the C5 and C6 vertebrae, which are in the lower neck region. Soon after the injury, he underwent surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
"It was a very scary situation," Boyles said. "He was on a ventilator for some time. At that point he had no movement in his arms and legs."
In August, he was transported to the Shepherd Center, a rehab hospital in Atlanta that specializes in spinal cord injuries. At first, because of COVID-19, only Michael could stay with him. About six weeks later, Betty, and younger son Byron, 13, were able to join them.
Caleb has made tremendous strides since he has been at Shepherd, Boyles said. On Dec. 22, Boyles posted a video of Caleb walking on a treadmill with the help of two therapists. By the end of the session he was carrying up to 90% of his bodyweight, she said. On New Year's Day she posted a video and pictures of Caleb taking a walk with his family's help along the Chattahoochee River.
Michael Struble is Boyles' chiropractor. Boyles and her husband, Joel, became good friends of the Strubles.
"I adore their two boys," Boyles said. "I want my son, who is 5, to be just like them."
Betty is Michael's office manager. Since the accident, the office has been closed with no money coming in, Boyles said. She said she understands the predicament, because she and Joel, who is a contractor, have a similar arrangement, running Joel Boyles LLC together.
Caleb's GoFundMe page has raised $26,593 as of Jan. 3. Boyles estimates that all of the fundraisers, including a fishing tournament in September at the Flagler Beach pier, has raised about $50,000 for the family.
The money helps pay the mortgage, electric, cellphones, gas, food and office bills. The local community helped decorate Caleb's room at Shepherd Center and provide comfortable clothes for Caleb to wear during his rehab sessions through an Amazon Prime wish list that sold out within 24 hours, Boyles said.
Michael Struble nominated Boyles for a Standing O. On Facebook Messenger, Betty Struble said Boyles' "efforts have made it possible for us to stay with our son during his rehab in order to help him through this."
Caleb may be coming home next month, Boyles said, and she is planning a welcome home celebration. Boyles is working with local restaurants to supply a "meal train" that will supply dinners for the family for their first month home.
Caleb will still have a long road ahead with intensive therapy once he comes home, Boyles said, but he continues to exceed doctors' expectations.
"We believe strongly that Caleb will walk again," Boyles said, adding she hopes he'll be able to walk across the stage for graduation.
Boyles said during recent a FaceTime call with Michael Struble, Joel commented on how much better Michael looked and sounded.
"I'm a lot better than I was three months ago," he said.
"They're an amazingly strong family," Boyles said. "They're going to make it."
