On July 20, James Badue was working under his home’s carport in Henderson, Texas, showing his daughter how to divert rainwater from the gutter. While demonstrating, he turned his head, saw a flash of light and was thrown about four feet away. His daughter shouted, “Daddy, Daddy! You got hit by lightning!” Badue described the sensation as a surge that passed through his body without obvious burns.
Medical evaluation and ongoing symptoms
Paramedics who arrived at the Badue home performed basic checks and reported that Badue’s heart rate was elevated – a normal response to a lightning strike – but otherwise appeared fine. The family believed he had escaped serious injury. Within days, however, Badue began experiencing episodes of extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, temporary paralysis and an inability to move his limbs. He also suffered brief periods of unconsciousness, once collapsing on his kitchen floor and remaining immobile for several minutes.
Initial hospital visits yielded normal results on EKG, MRI, EEG and blood work. Despite the clean tests, Badue’s short‑term memory deteriorated; he repeatedly forgot tasks he had just completed, such as preparing meals. Over the following month he required three separate hospital trips, each concluding with the same “normal” findings.The National Weather Service explains that Badue likely suffered a “side flash,” where lightning strikes a taller object nearby and a portion of the current jumps to a person standing within a few feet. Unlike a direct strike, a side flash often leaves no visible burns but can still damage the nervous system, leading to neurological and psychological symptoms.
Family impact and financial strain
Before the incident Badue worked in construction, building homes and churches, and tended a garden. He was physically active and described as fiercely independent. Now he relies on a walker and cannot return to work. His wife, Aaya Badue, has become his full‑time caregiver, and both parents have been unable to earn an income. The family is applying for disability benefits, a process that can take months.
Medical expenses have quickly outpaced the Badues’ resources. Specialized neuro‑psychological testing, which experts say is more useful than standard imaging for lightning‑related brain injury, is costly and not offered by every provider. To cover these costs, the family launched a GoFundMe campaign and is exploring a move back to Texas to be nearer extended family for childcare support.
Faith and hope
Throughout the ordeal the Badues have leaned on their Christian faith. “We’re thankful to God and our faith is strong,” Aaya said. “We believe James will recover, but it will be a process.” Their story underscores the hidden dangers of lightning strikes and the challenges families face when medical testing and treatment are limited.
Lightning strikes are rare; the National Weather Service estimates the annual chance of being struck at about 1 in 1.2 million, while the lifetime odds of knowing someone who is struck are roughly 1 in 1,530. The Badue family hopes their experience raises awareness of the long‑term health effects that can follow such an event.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
