Seven years ago, a miracle started to unfold in Jacksonville. It was July 17, 2017, just days before Drew Kohn’s 23rd birthday. He was headed to the gym on his motorcycle when he was hit by a car leaving him unconscious. The force of the crash so intense it knocked off his helmet and shoe. Drew was rushed to the hospital. He was in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, two impaled lungs, a broken shoulder, pelvis and ribs among other injuries.
Drew Kohn, who was just 22 when the crash occurred, was left with a severe brain injury and spent months in a coma. At one point, doctors even discussed organ donation, but his mother, Yolanda Osborne-Kohn, refused to give up hope.
For 244 days, Drew lay lifeless. After five months in the hospital, he was sent home where his mother continued to pray over him
Then one day, he woke up and spoke words she will never forget. “Yeah mom, I’m okay. I love you, mom.”
With perseverance, faith, and the help of his family and dedicated team at Brooks Rehab, Drew worked hard to learn how to talk and walk again.
“My family is grateful for Brooks Rehab and all the help of social service workers, police, and countless others in the community who rallied around Drew,” Osborne-Kohn said.
Drew’s miraculous story made headlines far beyond the First Coast. Each step of the way, he encouraged and inspired those around him.
As he overcame obstacle over obstacle, he used his testimony to give hope to those struggling with trauma and traumatic brain injuries.
After enduring tough rehabilitation, Drew managed to walk again, earning him the nickname “modern-day miracle.”
Despite his recovery, Drew’s life was cut short on July 26. He was walking on Collins Road in Jacksonville at around 5:30 am when a pickup truck struck him. The driver, who didn’t see Drew in time, pulled over and called 911, but Drew was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yolanda Osborne-Kohn expressed her gratitude for the extra seven years she had with her son. “I’m grateful for the borrowed time I had with him,” she said. “God honored my request, and I’m not mad. I’m at peace.”
She reflected on the moment she surrendered her son’s fate to God, recalling a heartfelt prayer at his hospital bed: “Thy will be done.”
Yolanda believes Drew is now in a better place, free from pain. “Drew is healed, walking, not struggling to keep his balance,” she said. “His arm is probably lifted so high saying ‘Thank you, Jesus!’ Drew probably has a football in one hand and a Bible in the other.”
Peoplesmind