FLEMING ISLAND — Every day, Isaiah Carrasco is getting better. Continuing down a long road to recovery after a near-fatal car crash four years ago.

The stronger he gets, the more his community continues to rally around him. Helping to ensure that he, and others with different abilities, get the assistance and support they need.

The annual Stronger Together Golf Tournament is one of the many ways to make that happen. On Tuesday, a crowd packed Top of the Tee on Town Center Boulevard to participate in four-man scrambles, longest drive competitions and raffles - all to raise funds towards Isaiah's journey to recovery.

Isaiah's father Eddie Carrasco said each year, the event gets bigger. It's also in collaboration with Fleming Island's By Your Side Senior Care and the Clay County Change Makers. Clay County Change Makers, founded in 2017, is a self-advocacy organization aiming to empower, lead community change and promote inclusion for people with different abilities.

The more people show up, Eddie said, the more people who continue to raise awareness on disabilities and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

"As long as it keeps growing, we'll continue to do it," he said. "We do it for three reasons. One, to advocate for disabilities because that's what Clay County Change Makers is. Two, to make sure that people are aware that disabilities are out there. And three, every single dime earned, for us here, goes to Isaiah's therapies only."

On June 12, 2022, a then 16-year-old Isaiah lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a single car. The passenger sustained a mild concussion, while Isaiah sustained a diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Isaiah was originally in a nonresponsive state, his mother Rose said, until a variety of therapy sessions and 20 hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments helped him to become alert.

Since then, he's gained strength, learned to communicate again and even plays video games using adaptive technology.

It's treatments like those, they said, that are not covered by insurance, making it harder for patients like Isaiah to get the effective support they need.

According to Phoong Law, TBI's are often not fully covered by insurance in Florida due to policy and administrative factors.

Eddie said they have traveled around and out of the country for Isaiah's recovery, receiving stem cell therapy and red-light therapy in places such as New Orleans, Atlanta and Monterrey, Mexico.

A big goal of theirs, the parents said, is to find non-invasive, low-impact therapies. It's difficult, however, as some insurances don't cover the cost of meeting DAI specialists.

Right now, Eddie said their biggest challenge is getting Isaiah into aquatic therapy, which promotes brain healing and prevents calcification, or brittle bones.

"The hard part for some of these families, where my heart goes out, some of these treatments, they're not cheap. They do take a lot of costs. I cringe when there's somebody that doesn't have the means or doesn't have the community to stand behind them because I see that's a path that hinders their progression."

All funds raised from the tournament benefit Isaiah's extensive medical needs, adaptive equipment and home modifications not covered. This year, specifically, the funds will go towards converting their main bathroom into a fully accessible space to help improve Isaiah's care, safety and quality of life. A costly need.

With the help of social media and the tournaments, Rose and Eddie have continued to advocate for the cause, being a voice of reason and hope for families going through similar situations.

"Hopefully, it opens up to insurance for many people because it's very expensive. We're very blessed with the community that has helped us in many ways," Rose said. "And we will continue that fight, not only for Isaiah, but to show other children, other parents what works and what doesn't."

Day by day, Isaiah is continuing to defy all odds. With Isaiah learning how to swallow again, Eddie and Rose said they are hopeful it will lead to him eating and eventually talking.

The advocacy for their son and others will never stop.

"They are not the forgotten. They should not ever be forgotten."