LDL. “Christmas Was Different… But Better Than Not Having One With Him”: Encouraging Update on Cleighton Strickland’s Recovery After Auburn Accident

It has been eight weeks since the accident in Auburn, Alabama that changed everything for the Strickland family.

Cleighton Strickland — a former Daphne baseball player — suffered a traumatic brain injury and has remained in a semi-conscious state since. For weeks, his loved ones have been living inside the slow, uncertain rhythm of severe brain injury recovery: long hospital days, careful monitoring, and the kind of waiting that doesn’t come with clear timelines.

In the past several weeks, Cleighton has been receiving care at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, one of the country’s well-known rehabilitation hospitals. And this week, Cleighton’s mother, Amy, shared an update that offered something families in this situation cherish deeply: signs of progress.

Moved Out of ICU on Christmas Eve — “25 Was His Baseball Number”

Amy shared that Shepherd Center moved Cleighton out of the ICU on December 24.

His new room number: 25-5.

To most people, that number might mean nothing. But to a family searching for hope wherever it appears, it felt like a small, emotional sign. Amy noted that 25 was Cleighton’s baseball number — a detail that immediately struck supporters as a reminder of the young man behind the hospital bed, and the life he is fighting to return to.

Off the Ventilator, Moving His Legs, and Starting Rehab

The update included multiple milestones that, in the world of traumatic brain injury, are meaningful steps forward.

According to Amy, Cleighton is now completely off the ventilator — a major turning point for any patient who has required breathing support. She also shared that Cleighton has been moving his legs, and that he had his first rehab session in the gym the day after Christmas.

One of the most emotional moments, Amy said, came when the therapy team stood him on his feet with full assistance.

For families walking through brain injury recovery, standing can represent far more than a physical action. It is a signal that the body is beginning to re-engage, that therapy is underway, and that the long road ahead is no longer purely medical stabilization — it is rehabilitation, rebuilding, and re-learning.

Amy also shared another small but powerful detail: Cleighton has chewed ice — a milestone that might sound simple, but can matter greatly when a patient is working toward swallowing safely and regaining basic functions.

Waiting for His Voice

Cleighton currently has a trach, and Amy said he now has a speaker on the trach — and the family is waiting for what they’ve been longing for: the moment he talks.

For loved ones, hearing a voice again can feel like crossing a bridge. It’s not just communication — it’s connection. It’s hearing personality, emotion, recognition. It’s confirmation that the person they love is still there, fighting to come back.

Amy shared that the team is also working to adjust some medications, a reminder that progress is rarely linear. Recovery often involves constant fine-tuning: pain control, sedation levels, sleep cycles, and the careful balance between rest and therapy.

“Christmas Was Different… But Better Than Not Having One With Him”

Perhaps the line that touched supporters most was Amy’s reflection on the holiday:

“Christmas was different, but absolutely better than not having one with him at all.”

It captured the raw truth many families face after a life-altering accident. Holidays don’t stop. Calendars keep moving. But the celebration changes shape. The gifts become simple: another day. Another breath. Another sign of movement. Another step.

Support Surrounding Cleighton — Including Mary Claire

Those close to the family also highlighted the presence of Cleighton’s girlfriend, Mary Claire, who has been by his side throughout this journey. In long recoveries, consistent support matters. It keeps patients surrounded by familiar voices, familiar love, and the steady belief that they are not fighting alone.

A Community Holding On to Hope

The Strickland family is still in the middle of a difficult chapter. Brain injury recovery can be unpredictable, slow, and emotionally exhausting — filled with victories that are sometimes measured in inches instead of miles.

But this update offered what so many people have been praying for: movement, milestones, therapy, and hope.

As Cleighton continues his care at Shepherd Center, his family and supporters are asking for the same thing they’ve asked for since the beginning: prayers, encouragement, and patience as he takes the next steps forward.

For now, the message from Amy is clear: Cleighton is still fighting — and progress is happening.

And for everyone following along, the hope is just as clear: may every comment, every prayer, and every word of encouragement help carry this family through the road ahead. 🙏🤍