Teen marks accident anniversary with baptism
Yearlong battle against injury recharges his spirituality
NEWCASTLE — Caleb Freeman’s life changed dramatically on Dec. 19, 2017, as he drove to Norman to see a University of Oklahoma men’s basketball game.
The Newcastle teenager suffered a severe brain injury when the pickup he was driving collided with a semi-truck on that rainy night just a few days before Christmas.
Caleb, 17, commemorated the one-year anniversary of the accident in a big way — one that symbolizes how his spiritual life has been recharged as a result of his “miracle” recovery form the collision.
Sunday, the teen was baptized at the 11 a.m. service at First Baptist Church of Newcastle, where his father, the Rev. Jeremy Freeman, is senior pastor.
The elder Freeman said he was thrilled when his son asked to be baptized again. He said Caleb was baptized as a young child but he wanted to do something to reflect his reinvigorated faith since the accident.
“He made a decision to be baptized when he was younger but he doesn’t remember all that,” Jeremy Freeman said.
“He brought it up. He said, ‘It’s a fresh start for me. The wreck did not turn my life upside down. The wreck turned my life in the right direction.’”
The teen’s progress, especially his effort to walk again, has been followed by people all over the world through the family’s “Pray For Caleb” Facebook page. Social media and the family’s inspirational “but God” hashtag helped share the story of the teen’s accident and recovery as the family sought a way to show others that their hope remained in God, despite the circumstances.
Jeremy Freeman said one day soon, his son’s journey will be shared through the media of film. He said the family is working with a producer to tell Caleb’s story in a documentary called “Caleb’s Hope.”
Giving and receiving encouragement
Jeremy Freeman said his son is doing great in school and continues physical therapy as part of his recovery. Despite his busy daily routine, the teen has enjoyed speaking to churches and other groups to share the story of his recovery, which the family and many others believe was miraculous.
“I love it for two reasons. One, it encourages Caleb and allows him to fulfill that purpose in his life and, two, it encourages people,” he said of the teen’s talks.
“Ninety percent of people with Caleb’s brain injury never wake up. Then when he woke up, they told us he’d never eat again, never walk again. So when we say Caleb is a miracle, it’s because he is.”
Freeman said the family has been blessed because many people have reached out to Caleb
to encourage him as he continues his recovery. In the initial months after the accident, then University of Oklahoma men’s basketball star point guard Trae Young signed a pair of his athletic shoes and sent them to Caleb.
Young and his family recently reached out to the Freemans and invited them to attend the Nov. 30 NBA matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Atlanta Hawks, which now includes Trae Young.
The pastor said Caleb was hosted by the Oklahoma City Thunder on that occasion and on Dec. 10. He said the teen loved attending the NBA games and visiting with Young (who gave him another pair of autographed shoes) and others. The Freemans also enjoyed a recent visit to OU at the invitation of Lon Kruger, OU men’s basketball coach.