DAPHNE, Ala. — For 12 days, Scott and Amy Strickland have kept a steady vigil at their son’s bedside, waiting for even the faintest sign of movement. Their 18-year-old son, Cleighton Strickland, has been in a medically induced coma since a serious vehicle crash on November 5.

“We are believers,” his mother, Amy, said. “We are praying our son will recover and lead a normal life.”

Her words reflect the quiet resolve of two parents fighting fear with faith. The couple says they have seen no reaction from Cleighton so far—no blink, no twitch of a finger—but they continue to repeat the phrase that has followed him for years: “Let’s go, son.”

It was a phrase Amy used to whisper from the stands during Cleighton’s senior baseball season at Daphne High School, where he was known for stepping onto the mound as the team’s closer. According to Amy, that simple encouragement carried a deeper meaning: a reminder of his determination, composure, and ability to finish strong.

“Last spring was Cleighton’s senior baseball season… he became his team’s closer,” Amy said. “‘Let’s go, son’ was what I told him when he walked out to finish a game.”

Now she repeats it in a hospital room instead of a ballfield.

The accident occurred near Shug Jordan Parkway as Cleighton was preparing for a new chapter—moving to Auburn to live with his brother Gregory and planning to attend Southern Union Community College.

He was airlifted to UAB Hospital with a traumatic brain injury. Amy says the flight to Birmingham felt endless.

“‘Let’s go, son,’ I prayed the entire drive.”

Doctors are monitoring swelling in his brain while he remains on a ventilator. The family says the medical team has been steady and transparent, explaining each adjustment in his condition and each challenge of brain injury recovery. The Stricklands acknowledge the path ahead is uncertain, but they remain hopeful for signs of neurological response.

Support has poured in from friends, teammates, and extended family. Gregory, Cleighton’s brother, has remained closely involved. His girlfriend, Mary Claire McTaggart, and his aunts—Kathryn, Rachael, Shae, and Marlo—have been constant visitors.

The Daphne High School baseball community has also reached out, sharing messages about Cleighton’s discipline and the quiet leadership he brought to the team. Coaches who worked with him described him as someone who “didn’t shy away from pressure,” a trait the family hopes will help him now.

“He’s always had a strong motor—strong mental fortitude,” Amy said. “We hope that drive helps him in this situation.”

Her use of the phrase “mental fortitude” stands out. It isn’t just a description of his athletic ability; it’s a belief that the qualities he showed on the field—focus, toughness, and resilience—can serve him in the fight for recovery. To the family, this is not simply optimism but a reflection of who they know him to be.

As the days pass, the Stricklands continue to hope for the smallest step forward: a blink, a finger moving, a moment of recognition. They know recovery from traumatic brain injury can take time, patience, and sometimes miracles. Still, they say they will remain by his side, whispering the same words they have always used to urge him forward.

“Let’s go, son.”

For now, they are asking the public to keep Cleighton in their thoughts as he battles for what they call “the biggest victory of his life.”