THROUGH IT ALL: Snippet of Linzie Madkins’s Story
Linzie Madkins became part of the Family Model Residential Program in 2017. After returning home from yet another hospitalization March 2021, Linzie took time to explain how the program (particularly his caregiver, Mr. Edward Evans) have allowed him to continue to live a meaningful and full life despite all challenges in addition to sharing how one accident changed his life forever.
Since participating in the CLS housing program with Meritan, Linzie expressed on many occasions how his caregiver, Edward Evans, takes really good care of him and that he really enjoys being in his family model home with Edward and his housemate. Edward does his best to ensure that Linzie has the best quality of life possible while respecting his wishes and infusing his ideas to reality. Linzie has been able to go out in the community on his own, attend family reunions and other family functions, going to Mud Island, attending firework displays, and celebrating the holidays with combinations of his family and Edward’s family. Linizie had been able to meet all his medical needs in a timely manner, decreasing recovery time and increasing longevity of self-sufficiency.
Linzie’s stories and speeches are recognized not just by his professional staff but from many organizations throughout the Mid-South and various counties of Mississippi as he encourages the youth and young adults to make positive and impactful choices and stay away from activities that will hinder overall qualities of life. He enlightened us on more of where he had been which led him to the path he is on now.
On March 21, 2001 Linzie was coming home from work. Linzie worked at a place called, “Frame Picture'', in Batesville, Mississippi. After completing his shift, Linzie gets in his car and prepares to drive home. While driving on Balentine Road (a two lane road), an 18 wheeler, pulling an attaching tractor trailer was in front of Linzie and another vehicle was behind him. As the other vehicle tried to pass Linzie and the truck, the other vehicle ran into Linzie from behind, resulting in him crashing into the 18 wheeler.
Linzie’s final injuries from the professionals concluded with the following: paralyed from the waist down, back broken in two places, neck broken in five places, a cracked sternum and five broken ribs. After surgery, Linzie spent three months in the rehabilitation department at Baptist Desoto Hospital. In 2018, Linzie had hip surgery. After the surgery, sepsis began to spread throughout his body, causing Linzie to lose all blood circulation down to his left foot. Doctor could not save his left foot thus it was amputated. Linzie started getting sick around June 2020 from another surgery. Doctors reported an additional surgery will need to be scheduled to correct the issue and Linzie went into surgery January 2021. The infectious disease doctor discovered that sepsis had again invaded into his right leg leading to another amputation. He returned to his family model home in March 2021, with the statement, “through it all I praise God that I am still here and thankful to be alive.”
This story is the Family Model Highlight of the month, and we are grateful for Mr. Linzie Madkins and Edward Evans for allowing us to be part of their journey!
Interview Conducted by Elton Frazier, Family Model Case Manager
Edits by Ashley Johnson, Family Model Program Director