Miracles for Mary
On November 22, 2009, the lives of Frater Jim “JD” Drake (Beta-Psi, Arkansas State), his wife Patti and their entire family would change forever; what started out as a family trying to keep their daughter alive has transitioned into a foundation to spread hope and healing. Furthermore, it has given his TKE brothers and families an opportunity to show what it means to live “TKE…The Fraternity for Life!”
On a trip home for Thanksgiving, JD and Patti’s daughter, Mary, 16, and her boyfriend, Blaine, were caught in a tragedy. A simple distraction of swatting a fly inside the moving car caused Mary to swerve into oncoming traffic, causing a horrific multi-vehicle accident. Her boyfriend, spared of major injuries, was able to contact authorities and Mary’s parents. Blaine assisted Mary until the EMTs arrived.
Mary’s injuries would require eight months of hospitalization and multiple procedures, including major brain surgery as Mary occurred traumatic brain damage. On the day after Thanksgiving, four doctors operated on Mary for several hours.
Mary was such an impact on others that over 1,000 visitors came to the hospital in the first few days with well wishes and gifts. To date, over 500,000 individuals have visited the Caring Bridge page to for Mary. Her school, Mount St. Mary’s, awarded the scholar student an honorary degree, but Mary persevered with the tenacity to complete her degree through the Little Rock School District and ultimately fulfilled her goal in May of 2014.
After five months in Ark Children’s Hospital and three months in Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute, Mary and her family transitioned to recovering at home. The family had been overwhelmed by the support of friends, family, church, school and others throughout the ordeal but now they felt overwhelmed by this personal task as her mom Patti commented, “At first you say, ‘Yes! We get to go home,’ but then you think, ‘Oh my gosh...There's no call button; there's no nurse around the corner. What are we supposed to do now?’”
While the family made many adjustments to help Mary at home, they had the compassion and fortitude to wonder how they could take their tragedy and make life better for others in the same situation. Frater Jim Drake says they were blessed and overwhelmed by the way their friends, church, and community helped them.
"You look back now and reflect on all the people that came and helped us: our support group and our church and our community. And you think, 'Wow, what are other people doing if they don't have that kind of support? How are they getting through this?'”
The catalyst for and the principles of the Miracles for Mary Foundation are best explained by the Drakes.
"We feel called to perpetuate that love, just as Jesus told his disciples after the parable of the Good Samaritan, ‘Go and do likewise.’ Our experience has inspired our determination to help others facing similar situations – to create an organization which will focus on helping others transition through these life-changing experiences in some of the same ways that we have been helped.”
As a means of fundraising, the Miracles for Mary Foundation established an annual golf tournament beginning in 2010. The event is fortunate to have the continued support of many local entities but one aspect that has helped the event grow each year is the involvement of Frater Drake’s TKE brothers from Beta-Psi.
In 2009, Frater Bill Quinn (Beta-Psi)—who orchestrates several annual golf tournaments in Houston—began working with key supporters at Mount St. Mary’s to establish the Miracles for Mary Foundation as a 501(c)3 organization.
Soon after, alumni from the Beta-Psi chapter at Arkansas State came to support the cause.
The event started with roughly 20 Tekes and has grown to become an annual reunion for Beta-Psi Alumni. As Frater Quinn explains, “It’s like when we were collegiate members and did community service projects and fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; it fosters brotherhood and goodwill with the overall objective being so much bigger than all of us!"
TKE…for Life is exemplified through the Miracles for Mary Foundation. Fraters who had lost connection with the Fraternity has since come together each summer to support their Frater, his family and others that are served by this foundation.
The annual event held in Little Rock, Arkansas, welcomes Fraters from all parts of the country.
Out of tragedy and compassion for others, young Mary Drake, her family and TKE Brothers are exemplifying the power of the Bond of Tau Kappa Epsilon and TKE…The Fraternity for Life!
For more information, visit www.miraclesformary.com.
Written by:
Jerry Halsell
Beta-Psi Alumni Association