Teen leans on faith and positivity after loss of fingers, fundraiser planned to help
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – “What I can control is my attitude. And if I can control my attitude, and just look positively, then I know I’m gonna be alright anyway.”
The power of positivity. That’s what has gotten Jack Barefoot, 18, through the loss of four fingers on his right hand after an accident at work last week.
Barefoot had been working at his uncle’s family business when his hand got caught in a meat grinding machine. He was driven to the Bowling Green Medical Center and then flown to a hospital in Louisville. The doctors managed to save his thumb and reattach his pinky finger. During the flight he took to social media to ask friends and family to pray for him.
“My faith has become probably the strongest it’s ever been. And seeing all these people pray for me and stuff it’s really an eye opener. Just to know that He has it all under control and He uses this many people to get me through this and help me,” said Barefoot.
There’s been overwhelming support from the community during this difficult time. His neighborhood even had a welcome home parade for him when he got home from the hospital Thursday night. His neighbors had signs and even sang him a song for his recovery.
“The prayers, and the well wishes, and people lifting Jack up you know if he feels down or if he’s having a bad moment, he’ll look at his phone and it’s like Jack you’ve got this, God’s got this, the Lord’s got this, we’re praying for you,” said Steph Barefoot, Jack’s mom.
There’s been so much support that they had to move Sunday’s fundraiser for Jack to a larger venue, The Spillway parking lot, in order to accommodate more people and make sure they are still social distancing.
The fundraiser starts at 1 p.m. and some of the events at the fundraiser include food trucks, a corn hole tournament, a silent auction and live music from Andy and the Rockers.
The family has also set up a GoFundMe to help cover expenses Jack will need to readjust to his new life.
