Deputy First Class Rod Reeves has a new perspective on things, after being seriously hurt on the job and fighting his way back. The Forsyth County deputy has gone through a lot of surgeries and rehab. Now, his fitness training is helping him make a comeback.
“I've always been big into CrossFit,” Reeves said. “I'm in the gym anywhere between three and five times a week.”
Reeves was hit by a drunk driver in November of 2017, while patrolling Highway 400.
“I had just completed a traffic stop and we had a lookout for a possible DUI suspect traveling southbound on 400,” Reeves said. “I saw something flash on my radar, then there were bits and pieces where I was in and out of consciousness.”
The Dodge Charger being driven by Reeves was hit by a Ford Explorer at 88 miles per hour.
“Basically I was looking for him, but he found me first,” Reeves said. “I wasn't aware of the severity of it until I actually saw the photos.”
“I remember seeing it and thinking there's really no way my husband survived this crash,” Megan Reeves said.
“I got the phone call from one of my lieutenants,” Sheriff Ron Freeman said. “He was telling me about the severity and his words were, ‘Boss it don't look good.’"
Reeves was airlifted to the hospital. As he fought to recover, his colleagues collected money to pay for medical bills.
“We raised about $25,000 in about 3 hours at just a few intersections in this community,” Sheriff Freeman said. “When our community found out what it was for, they just came unglued to help.”
That support encouraged Reeves through a long medical battle.
“There were 5 surgeries that took place,” Reeves said. “The last surgery, the fifth surgery, was the total hip replacement.”
“His hip was a mess,” Megan said. “They literally described it as someone taking a gun and just blowing out his entire hip. It was in pieces.”
“I lost 40 to 45 pounds,” Reeves said. “I went from being a little over 240 to 205.”
He was back in the gym as soon as a doctor gave him clearance, and he has successfully built his muscle back to where it was.
“He was a stud when I hired him. He's a stud today,” Sheriff Freeman said.
“It's paid off,” Reeves said. “I haven't quite got to the point where I can power clean over 200 pounds yet, but it's coming.”
“The fact that he's right back to where he was is just incredible to me,” Megan said.
As for the driver who hit Reeves, the sheriff’s department said he had a blood alcohol level that was three times the legal limit and was also driving on a suspended license. He is currently waiting for his DUI trial.
Want more Cumming news? Follow us on Facebook.