In Support of Charleen Thigpen and Garrett Busby
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Bringing Garrett Home… Where He Belongs
If you have ever met Charleen, you already know one thing about her:
She is strong. She is fierce. She would give you the shirt off her back without a second thought. She is also the last person who would ever ask anyone for help. Honestly, she would probably rather wrestle an alligator than admit she needs it.
But today, she does.
For Garrett, Charleen has never been just “Mama.”
She has been his voice when he could not speak. His advocate when he could not fight for himself. His nurse, protector, defender, comfort, and safe place.
Since the day Garrett was born, Charleen has devoted her life to caring for her son, who is completely disabled and nonverbal. Since March 23, he has also been unable to walk. He depends on his mama for every need, every day.
And if you asked Charleen, she would tell you without hesitation that every difficult day, sleepless night, sacrifice, and tear has been worth it.
Because Garrett is worth it.
In December, Garrett received a second Deep Brain Stimulator in hopes of gaining better control over his seizures. Everyone prayed that the surgery would mark the beginning of a brighter, more peaceful chapter for him.
Instead, it eventually led to the hardest chapter of their lives.
On March 23, Charleen knew something was wrong. She could not get Garrett up, and her instincts told her not to wait. She immediately sought medical attention. A CT scan revealed a brain bleed, and Garrett was transported to Shreveport for specialized care and admitted to the ICU.
Then came pneumonia.
Urinary tract infections.
Respiratory failure.
And more seizures than anyone should ever have to endure.
Days became weeks. Weeks became months.
Garrett was placed on a ventilator, taken off, and then placed back on again. Eventually, he required a tracheostomy just to keep breathing.
Every time it seemed like they might finally be turning a corner, another setback appeared.
Those who have followed Charleen’s updates have celebrated victories that many of us might once have taken for granted:
“He opened his eyes.”
“He squeezed my hand.”
“He followed my voice.”
To Charleen, those were not small moments. They were mountains.
When you love someone this deeply, nothing is insignificant. Every movement becomes a reason to hope. Every response becomes proof that Garrett is still fighting. Those moments gave Charleen the courage to keep going.
And Charleen is nothing if not courageous.
For more than 108 days, she lived in hospital rooms. She learned to read monitors instead of clocks. She became fluent in medical language she never wanted to understand. She questioned doctors when something did not feel right. She contacted patient advocates. She made sure Garrett was seen, heard, and cared for.
She fought.
She cried.
She prayed.
And then she fought even harder.
Every morning, no matter how exhausted or frightened she was, she got back up and did it all again.
Because that is what mothers do.
Garrett was eventually transferred to a hospital in Lafayette, about an hour from home. Charleen returned to work, drove to the hospital every day to be beside him, then drove home each night so she could get up and do it all again the next morning.
Day after day, she did this without hesitation and without complaint, while a caseworker searched for a skilled nursing facility closer to home.
Then Charleen was faced with another impossible decision.
The hospital planned to transfer Garrett to a facility in Baton Rouge, more than two hours away. Charleen traveled there herself to tour it and determine whether it could safely meet his needs.
She was willing to sell her home, leave her job, and relocate if that was what it took for Garrett to receive proper care.
But the facility was NOT adequate.
The building reeked of stale urine and despair. There was no clear plan for continuously monitoring Garrett.
But Garrett cannot wait two hours if he has a severe seizure.
He cannot call for help if his heart rate drops.
He cannot tell anyone when he cannot breathe.
Charleen could not find peace in the thought of leaving her son in a room without the close observation and compassion his condition requires.
For many families, it might have felt like there was no other choice.
For Charleen, it was not a choice at all.
She said no.
She was told they would continue searching for another placement.
Then, one evening after work, she received a call. Garrett was being discharged and transferred to the Baton Rouge facility the next morning whether she consented or not. He had already been moved from a high-observation nursing ward into a shared room without continuous monitoring.
Charleen’s answer was immediate:
“Send him home. Pack up all of his equipment. He is coming home.”
Because Garrett cannot fight this battle for himself.
So his mama is fighting it for him.
Now the real work begins.
Their home must become a skilled nursing environment, and Charleen must become Garrett’s full-time nurse. He depends oxygen, suction equipment, monitors, feeding equipment, and countless other medical devices to keep him alive.
On their very first night home, the power flickered.
In that instant, a terrifying reality hit Charleen:
What happens if the power goes out?
Garrett’s life-sustaining equipment cannot simply stop. Without electricity, the devices helping him breathe, eat, and remain stable could fail.
One of their greatest and most urgent needs is a dependable generator that will keep Garrett’s medical equipment running during an outage.
Charleen’s Family Medical Leave is also coming to an end, which means the paycheck that has kept their household moving may soon end as well. Her employer has been incredibly compassionate and supportive throughout this ordeal, but the future remains uncertain.
The hope is that a qualified facility closer to home will eventually be able to care for Garrett. Right now, however, there is no safe place for him other than home.
Charleen will be providing around-the-clock care while trying to arrange nursing assistance, respite care, insurance approvals, medical appointments, and everything else required to keep Garrett safe.
All while somehow keeping the lights on, food on the table, and herself standing.
Charleen has never wanted to ask for help.
Truthfully, she probably still does not.
But those of us who love her can do what she would do for any one of us.
We can show up.
We can help lift some of the weight she has been carrying alone. We can give her something that has become almost priceless: a little peace of mind.
How You Can Help
Your gift can help provide:
- A dependable generator to keep Garrett’s life-sustaining equipment running during power outages.
- Medical supplies and equipment not covered by insurance.
- Utilities, groceries, and everyday household expenses.
- Transportation to medical appointments, therapies, and follow-up care.
- Nursing assistance and respite support.
- A little breathing room for a mother who has barely taken a breath in months.
No gift is too small.
Maybe you can give $10. Maybe $25. Maybe more.
Perhaps you can provide a meal, offer your time, or lend a helping hand.
Maybe the only thing you can do today is share Garrett’s story with someone else.
Every prayer matters.
Every share matters.
Every meal, donation, and act of kindness matters.
Charleen has spent her entire adult life making sure Garrett never had to fight alone.
Now it is our turn to make sure she does not either.
Let’s remind one incredible mama that the people who spend their lives carrying everyone else deserve to be carried sometimes, too.
Thank you for every prayer, every share, every meal, every helping hand, and every donation.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping bring Garrett home—where he belongs.
Whether you’re willing to give money, send meals, or lend a hand, your support makes a real difference.
Those who would like to help the family can:
- Choose from Support Registry options
- ‘Share’ to Spread the Word to family and friends
- ‘Follow’ Updates to stay informed
Thank you.
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- Created Jul 11, 2026
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Marilyn Elliott about 1 month ago • with donation
Meagan Dungan about 1 month ago • with donation
Anonymous about 1 month ago • with donation
Pam Berryman about 1 month ago • with donation
Anonymous about 1 month ago • with donation
Emilee Ware about 1 month ago • with donation