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Bob Evans, Carolyn and Randy McFarlin and Maria Kulma attend the ETMC tree lighting. ETMC Tyler celebrated its 24th annual Christmas tree lighting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, with former trauma patient and Whitehouse High School athletic director and head football coach Randy McFarlin
lighting the tree.
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| The Whitehouse High School choir “Pitch Perfect” under the direction of Amy McMichael sang Christmas carols at the event. |
East Texas Medical Center
Tyler celebrated its 24th annual Christmas tree lighting on Tuesday, Nov.
29, with former trauma patient and Whitehouse High School athletic director and
head football coach Randy McFarlin lighting the tree.
McFarlin was injured Nov. 28,
2010, when a pickup truck slammed into his vehicle seven miles east of Gilmer.
McFarlin swerved to avoid the accident, but the truck hit the driver’s side
door---trapping him inside. Once he was freed from the vehicle, McFarlin was
flown by Air 1 to ETMC Tyler’s Level 1 Trauma Center in critical condition with
internal injuries, fractured ribs and a fractured pelvis.
He remained in
intensive care for over a month, and in January was moved to ETMC’s Rehabilitation
Center. His wife Carolyn, son Craig and Craig’s now wife Missy were also
injured, but were treated and released.
This is the second year for ETMC to use its
living Christmas tree, which was planted as part of the city of Tyler’s tree
conservation program.
The tree is located on the front lawn of the hospital and
has grown several feet since last year.
As in past years, Santa Claus posed for pictures with children attending the tree lighting, and real reindeer were on hand as well for young people to see close-up.
See more photos from the event on the ETMC Facebook page.