Redford mom fighting for son after devastating car crash: 'A mother's worst nightmare'

A mother from Redford Township is struggling to support her son after a devastating car crash last year left him in a hospital bed where he has been semi-conscious for the past three months.

While Kawonn Peeples Jr. has undergone several surgeries, he will require extensive rehab just to regain some of his abilities. But issues with health insurance has led to his rehab being denied by Blue Cross Blue Shield, his mom said.

"A mother's worst nightmare. My baby didn't look like my baby - he's been through a lot," said Bridget Amolsch.

Timeline:

In October 2024, 24-year-old Kawonn Peeples Jr. was the passenger in a car traveling down I-96 in Livingston County when they hit a deer before being crushed by another driver.

The crash is still under investigation, but the county sheriff believes alcohol may have been a factor.

Since then, Peeples has been in and out of a coma at University of Michigan Hospital. Doctors say it could take up to a year before they know what kind of recovery the man could make.

 "They said this could take up to a year to figure out where my son, who he's going to be again because of all the severe traumatic brain injuries," Amolsch said. 

The 24-year-old's mom works at Ford, but has been on medical while she cares for her three other kids while watching over her injured son.

"I've been watching him fight for his life every single day," she said.

What they're saying:

Beyond the struggles that lie ahead for Peeples, his mom said she is also struggling to make sense of her insurance, who initially approved him for rehabilitation at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago - then denied it.

"How do we fix this? He was literally accepted, then denied. None of it's making sense," Amolsch said. "I need to get him the physical therapy that he needs so that he can maybe learn to walk and talk again."

Her son has already gone through seven surgeries due to his skull being fractured and his brain hemorrhaging.

Blue Cross Blue Shield, the family's insurance provider, told FOX 2 they were working to find out why coverage was first approved - then denied.

What you can do:

A gofundme has been set up to help the family struggling with the high cost of hospital care.

"Everyone's like, ‘oh day by day’ but it's minute by minute with my son," said Amolsch. "My son deserves help. He deserves justice."

"I kind of just feel really lost and helpless," she said.

The gofundme can be found here.

RedfordCrime and Public Safety