A young man’s trip to a chiropractor ended in tragedy — and changed his life forever. Jonathan Buckelew, now 34, developed locked-in syndrome after doctors failed to diagnose his stroke in time. Ten years later, his father, Jack Buckelew, is sharing what daily life looks like for his son.
Jonathan was just 24 when he suddenly became dizzy and unresponsive during a chiropractor visit in Georgia. Doctors at North Fulton Hospital missed clear stroke symptoms for over 12 hours. That mistake left him completely paralyzed — able only to blink and move his eyes. “It’s just a lot of pain,” his father said. “He wants to do things, he wants to go places. It breaks our hearts.”
The Buckelew family’s home is now fully adapted to Jonathan’s needs, complete with a therapy room and a calming fish tank. In one of the largest medical malpractice cases in U.S. history, the family won $75 million in damages.
Their lawyer said it best: “Jonathan’s paralysis was completely avoidable.” His story serves as a powerful reminder — every second counts when a stroke strikes.
