The Orange Beach community has been rallying behind a family whose 12-year-old son, Cayde Bagwell, is battling a brain injury.

Bagwell, a baseball player and cross country runner at Orange Beach Middle School, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke from an arteriovenous malformation, an abnormal connection between arteries and veins usually in the brain or spine, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the city fire department reported. He was originally taken to Orange Beach Fire Station 3, where his dad, Brian Turk, works, and then airlifted to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola.

The Mako community filled the baseball stadium at the Orange Beach Sportsplex for a community prayer event on Thursday, Sept. 19, where hundreds of people gathered to show their support.

Another opportunity has been scheduled for Oct. 3 back at the Sportsplex where proceeds from a planned Jambalaya Fundraiser will help cover medical expenses. A GoFundMe has also been established.

Hospital updates

Turk’s initial update from Sept. 20 said his son received a drain to relieve the pressure in his head and had recently been taken off the ventilator after he was considered in critical but stable condition.

“Cayde has every bit of his personality and wants everyone to know that he is OK,” Turk wrote last Friday. “Cayde had a few first words, which were ‘I need water, lots of water,’ ‘I’m so glad you married him’ and ‘Can I still go to baseball practice?’”

Sept. 24 marked Bagwell’s seventh day in the Intensive Care Unit, but his dad reported he was feeling much better and that he had already started physical, occupational and speech therapy. Turk also said that once he is released from the children’s hospital, Bagwell will head to Atlanta for further rehabilitation.

“Doctors expect Cayde to make 99% recovery over the next two years. He is in good spirits and ready to get to work so he can get back in the batting cages,” Turk wrote on Tuesday.

The potentially life-saving text exchange

One possible reason why he was set up for survival and recovery was thanks to his brother, Bryson, who was the one to make the initial discovery the night of Sept. 17, according to their mother, Brittany Turk.

She said in a Thursday update that the usual nightly routine is for the kids to relinquish their devices, but this night, the parents forgot.

“Kids being kids, they both broke the rules and stayed up talking on the phone,” Brittany said on Sept. 26. “Sept. 17 around 11 p.m., Cayde begins screaming. Bryson then sends him texts, ‘Shut up’ and ‘Your (sic) so loud.’

“Cayde continues to scream, so Bryson then proceeds to go into his room to see what was going on,” the mother continued. “Bryson immediately runs into our room to wake us up. Cayde is screaming as loud as he can. We run into his room to find him crying and saying he couldn’t feel his arm, it was numb, and then realized he couldn’t feel his leg either.”

Donations accepted at Bryant Bank, Orange Beach fire stations

With still a long road ahead of him, those who are wanting to help Bagwell and the Turk family can also drop off donations at any Bryant Bank or Orange Beach fire station location.

“For everyone wanting to donate who are unable to do so through the GoFundMe, an account has been established at Bryant Bank for Cayde Bagwell. Checks can be made payable to either Brian Turk or Brittany Turk,” the Orange Beach Fire Department shared on Facebook Thursday. “Donations can be dropped off at any Bryant Bank location, any Orange Beach fire station or mailed to Orange Beach Fire and Rescue 'attn: Cayde Bagwell' at PO Box 458, Orange Beach, AL 36561.”