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A devastating motorcycle accident in 2009 upended 20-year-old Franklin County native Kurt Jackson’s life. Overnight the young man was paralyzed from the waist down.

As heartbreaking as the accident was to Mr. Jackson, in many ways his positive outlook on life has allowed him to cope and accept. Over the past 16 years he has led a successful and rewarding life.

“I have been blessed with my daughter. My life revolves around her and she is number one in my life behind Jesus. I have also been blessed by managing my dad’s business CJ’s Automotive and Tire in Decherd,” said Mr. Jackson

However, the accident caused numerous day-to-day challenges.

Spinal cord injuries and the inability to walk will often cause swelling in the legs. The swollen area is very fragile and can easily open, resulting in a wound. From time to time Mr. Jackson would accidentally hit a fragile part of a leg and an open wound would occur. When this occasionally happened, he would seek relief from local and regional health care providers.

No luck. The wounds persisted and would not heal.

Read on to learn how a group of compassionate health care professionals at the Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Wound Care Center upended Mr. Jackson’s life. This time in a good way.

After years of non-healing wounds and no relief, it was suggested Mr. Jackson visit The Wound Center at Vanderbilt Tullahoma Harton Hospital. His first appointment was one year ago.

“What a blessing. The staff at Vanderbilt is so compassionate. They are constantly trying new things to help me and heal my wounds. The Wound Center team looks at the whole picture not just what they see at the office. They take all their knowledge and make a plan. It’s a group effort,” said Mr. Jackson.

He continued,” I had been to another facility for five years with the same wound and no progress. After a short time at Vanderbilt, they diagnosed the issue, implemented a treatment plan and now the wound is healed. They treat me like family.”

Nurse Practitioner and full time provider Megan Smith works at The Wound Center. With 14 years as a health care professional, Mrs. Smith’s first patient when she started at The Wound Center last December was Mr. Jackson.

When asked why she chose wound care as a profession, Mrs. Smith was passionate and quick to reply.

“Wound care is definitely a calling God chose for me. In scripture, Jesus often cared for the sick and tended to wounds-both physical and spiritual. The parable of the Good Samaritan especially speaks to me. He didn’t pass by someone who was hurting, but stopped, cleaned his wounds and cared for him until he was restored. That’s the heart of wound care, showing compassion, being present in someone’s pain and helping them heal step by step.

“To me, wound care is a way to live out my faith in a very practical and tangible way. Every dressing change, every word of reassurance and every effort to promote healing reflects the love and mercy God calls us to show others. It reminds me daily that caring for people with wounds is not just about physical recovery, but also about restoring dignity, hope and wholeness.

“Wounds not only affect people’s physical health but also impact quality of life, dignity and independence. I’m drawn to the complexity of wound care, as it requires critical thinking, problem solving and staying current with evolving treatment plans.”

According to Mrs. Smith, the type wounds they see at The Wound Center are caused by injury, diseases, poor circulation, diabetic ulcers, malnutrition, burns and other conditions.

She advises that if a wound isn’t healing on its own with basic at-home remedies within a week or two, one should seek help with a wound care specialist.

Dr. Joseph Thomasson is the Medical Director at The Wound Center.  Podiatrist Dr. Matthew Murphey also sees patients at the center.

The patient’s first visit to The Wound Center includes an evaluation of the wound, the patient’s general health and medical history. Typically, additional testing is performed.

Subsequent visits include implementing a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs, evaluating progress and making necessary changes.

The Wound Center typically sees 60 to 70 patients weekly and the staff there strives to treat everyone with the same professional care and compassion as Mr. Jackson receives.