Jeremy Anderson didn’t know if his son would ever walk again—let alone return to being the irrepressible, football-loving kid he had always been.
The horrific e-bike crash that nearly took Parker Anderson’s life — and stunned St. Johns County — happened on a warm evening in May.
“It was the worst day of my life,” his father told The Citizen. “I didn’t know if he would live or die.”
Just months earlier, Parker had received an e-bike for his 12th birthday, a gift that quickly became his favorite mode of recreation.
But during a ride on Race Track Road, the Fruit Cove Middle School student lost control attempting a trick and crashed hard onto the asphalt. He wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time.
The injuries were devastating: a fractured skull, visible scrapes, heavy bandaging, and moments when Parker stopped breathing in the ambulance.
Parker — who has lost his mom to cancer years earlier — was placed in a medically induced coma and airlifted to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
“I wasn’t prepared for what I saw,” Jeremy said at the time. “Tubes everywhere, the neck brace, his face. I just dropped to my knees.”
Parker’s recovery began slowly but soon showed glimmers of hope. In a video shared on a GoFundMe page that raised over $85,000, Parker is seen rising from bed and giving a long, heartfelt hug to a physical therapist.
A St. Johns Citizen Instagram reel on the touching moment drew 4.3 million views and expressions of concern from across the country.
With cuts still visible on his face and a heavily bandaged arm, he gently rested his head on the caregiver’s shoulder. At one point, he moaned and softly asked for his sister, Payton.
Jeremy remembers the uncertain torment of those early days. He longed for reassurance that Parker’s team of doctors and physical therapists just couldn’t give him at the time.
“From the get-go when he was unconscious. I was asking what happens. They say no one knows because everybody is different. Another kid could have the same exact injury and could have permanent damage. No one can predict the brain,” he said.
But Parker showed an uncommon resolve — and soon defied expectations.
He began therapy at Brooks Rehabilitation on May 6. After a week of inpatient care, he completed more than 40 days of outpatient therapy, finishing June 21.
Though the healing was rapid, it wasn’t without hurdles. “He couldn’t walk straight, he was drifting a little, not lifting [his foot] completely and hitting middle of the step and missing,” Jeremy said. “He was having trouble finding the right words when he was talking to you but that quickly resolved.”
Now, Parker is back to being a kid again—fishing, swimming, having sleepovers, and even taking a weekend trip to Tampa. “I actually haven’t seen him all week,” Jeremy said with a laugh. “He’s been over at a friend’s house just enjoying his summer.”
Asked about his first memory after the crash, Parker told The Citizen that his recollections are still cloudy.
“Waking up on the couch in the hospital, I didn’t really understand anything.”
It was his devoted sister who helped him piece it all together.
When asked if he had any fear after the accident, Parker said, “I wasn’t really thinking about that. Just me being all right.”
After weeks of waiting, Jeremy finally gave Parker his e-bike back.
The boy begged his hesitant father to entrust him with the responsibility once again.
Jeremy agreed, but with a new set of non-negotiable rules. Parker now wears a full-face dirt bike helmet and does so without question.
“He’s adamant about making sure he wears his helmet and he’s being extra careful,” Jeremy said.
While he’s nearing a full recovery, he still can’t return to playing football with his beloved Creeks Outlaws, as doctors advised waiting six months to protect his healing skull.
But he’ll remain with the team, wearing his jersey on the sidelines. His favorite player? “Barkley,” Jeremy said, referring to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
While Parker’s physical scars are fading—only minor discoloration remains on his nose and cheek—the emotional impact on his family and community endures. “It kind of made him grow up quickly,” Jeremy said.
The outpouring of support was overwhelming.
“We had people drop off gift cards for dinner,” the grateful dad recalled. “There were a lot of hours that I missed. I rely on overtime a lot. Working 50 to 55 hours a week to 35 to 40 was a big pay cut.”
Having walked through the fire with his boy, Jeremy issued a stern message to fellow parents.
“Make sure your kid is being safe. Wear your safety gear. Keep your head on a swivel… There has been a 98 percent rise in kids wearing their helmets in Julington Creek. I don’t think I’ve seen a kid since his accident that didn’t have a helmet on.”
Now, Parker is a symbol of resilience. “It’s such a relief to know he’s OK,” Jeremy said. “He just bounced back like a rubber ball. You would never know that he was hurt like that just by looking at him.”
Asked about those who reached out during those dire early days, Parker paused.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” he said. “And standing by my side.”
