Two brothers remain in a “critical but stable” condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast following a devastating crash in Fermanagh that also injured their father and another sibling.
Joshua Black, aged 14, along with his 12-year-old brother Dylan, are currently undergoing medical care following the incident. The two boys, their father Stephen (35) and brother Jake (12) were involved in the collision with a tree while travelling in a white pick-up along the main Enniskillen to Irvinestown Road on March 31.
Their grandfather David Black, a well-known and respected former politician, has spoken of the initial shock and worry he and his wife Anne experienced upon learning of the accident.
"When this first happened, I could barely sleep. I just pictured the two boys and my son lying there in the hospital bed, not knowing at that stage how serious it was or what was going to happen," he shared, revealing the profound impact it has had on his “close-knit family”.
He spoke to this newspaper to reflect gratitude for the "outpouring of support from various people" particularly local churches. On the windowsill of his home are several cards from people offering their thoughts and prayers.
"I want to thank everyone, and all the churches, including Independent Methodist in Irvinestown for praying for the family. I want to express my gratitude to Pastor James Maxwell and Pastor Raymond Moore, too. The support from everyone has been overwhelming," he said.
He spoke of "not knowing what is next in life" and said the family are taking each day as it comes.
Reflecting on the progress made by the injured family members, Mr. Black highlighted the resilience they have shown.
“The Lord has touched my son; he is now home. The medical staff have assured us that their bodies have settled down well. We put that down to the prayer of God’s people," he remarked.
While Stephen and Jake have been discharged from hospital, Mr. Black acknowledges that the road to recovery for Joshua and Dylan will be long and challenging.
"We're not looking at two to three weeks, we are looking at a much longer period of time. We can’t put a time limit on it," he admitted.
Expressing gratitude for the medical staff at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) who provided initial care on the day of the accident, Mr. Black also extended appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the doctors and nurses at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
“They don’t know what they are faced with each day, I want to thank every one of them for all they have done for my family.”
Mr. Black finds solace in their close-knit bond.
"We are a very, very close family and this is the most difficult thing we have faced. It has certainly been the most worrying," he added.
He says he has found comfort in the sense of calmness he has encountered amidst the difficulties.
“When we walked into the ward at the Royal I turned to my wife and said there is a presence here, there was a calmness. That was the Lord. We don’t know what is going to happen next.
“All we know is we will continue to be here for our family, for the boys, and we are grateful for the support of everyone in the community. They are helping us through this,” he said.
A coffee morning is to be held on Saturday, April 20 (9.30am to 12.30pm) at the Archdale Memorial Hall in Ballinamallard in which all proceeds will go towards supporting the Black family.
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