James Franklin delivered some great news Saturday afternoon, bringing the coach “one step closer” to being able to fully reunite with his family.
Franklin’s youngest daughter, Addison, has sickle cell disease, putting her at high risk for complications if she were to contract COVID. To help with her safety, Franklin’s wife and two daughters lived away from the coach for most of 2020.
First dose for the Franklin girls! One step closer! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/xCf4OgcZjl
— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) May 15, 2021
Franklin’s wife and daughters were able to return to the family home a few months ago, but the coach still had to live separately in an apartment above the garage. All of it was done to keep Addison safe.
Saturday, Franklin tweeted that his daughters received their first COVID shot Friday, calling it a “HUGE deal for our family.”
Photo from James Franklin Twitter
“After living apart from my family for the better half of a year, our daughters were cleared by our pediatric hematologist to be vaccinated,” Franklin wrote. “Yesterday they received their first dose. This is a HUGE deal for our family & anyone trying to protect the immunocompromised.
“I want to thank & support everyone who’s already been vaccinated for making the world a little safer for my daughters; & encourage anyone who isn’t to consider if it’s right for them.”
Franklin spoke several times during last football season about how difficult it has been for him to be away from his family for so long.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Franklin said in November. “One of the things that I have not done a great job of handling personally that I have to be honest with myself and honest with the team and honest with you guys, I have not done a great job of managing my family being gone. I have not. They are my fuel. I go home, they’re able to pour into me. And I have not done a great job of that.”
With his daughters getting their first vaccine dose, hopefully this means the Franklin family can finally be reunited soon and return to their normal lives.
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