Raven Simone, a mother from Riverdale, Georgia, is living every parent’s nightmare after her teenage son, De’Lon Jackson, lost his leg in a tragic accident while heroically rescuing her from a car crash.
The incident unfolded on a day that started like any other. De’Lon, a 15-year-old high school football player at Charles Drew High School, had just finished practice when Raven was on her way to pick him up. But what should have been a routine drive quickly turned disastrous.
“I was on my way to get him when the accident happened,” Raven recalled, her voice filled with emotion.
Struggling to move or even breathe, she managed to call De’Lon, who immediately rushed to the scene without a second thought.
As Raven waited, trapped in the wreckage, her only thought was of her son’s safety. “All I could think about was getting to him,” she said.
But in a cruel twist of fate, it was De’Lon who would need rescuing next.
After bravely pulling his mother from the car, De’Lon was struck by another vehicle.
“I was walking around the back, and you hear a car coming,” Raven recounted, the pain evident in her words. “I turn around and say, ‘Where’s my son?’ And then I see him, way up in the middle of the street, and his right leg is twisted.”
De’Lon was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where doctors were forced to amputate his right leg. His left leg also suffered severe injuries, marking the end of his dreams of playing in the NFL—a dream he had cherished deeply.
Despite the unimaginable tragedy, Raven remains focused on caring for De’Lon and her other children. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover De’Lon’s medical expenses, raising nearly $8,000 of its $100,000 goal.
While the road ahead is long and uncertain, Raven draws strength from the fact that both she and her son are still alive.
“He’s my hero,” she said. “I can’t imagine life without him. We’re just grateful to still have each other.”
As De’Lon begins the challenging journey of rehabilitation, Raven stands by him, her love and support unwavering.
“He saved me,” she said, tears in her eyes. “Now it’s my turn to be there for him, every step of the way.”
Authorities have yet to release a full report on the incident, and it remains unclear if the driver who hit De’Lon will face charges.
