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Injured Laurens County deputy still recovering in hospital, surgery stops internal bleeding, sheriff said

Capt. Chris Bracewell was injured in a car crash in Valdosta. After a surgery, Sheriff Larry Dean says there has been progress, but there's still a long way to go.

LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — Sheriff Larry Dean released new information on the recovery of  Capt. Chris Bracewell, a long-time deputy with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office who suffered major injuries in a car crash near Valdosta. 

In a Facebook post, Dean said that Bracewell — who's worked for the office for 35 years — underwent surgery recently and, according to Dean's post, it appears that Bracewell has been making progress.

"They have gotten the internal bleeding stopped but he still will require an additional surgery in the next few days to set a cage in place for his broken ribs to heal in alignment," Dean wrote the post. 

The car crash happened last Saturday when, around 7:45 a.m., Bracewell was in the passenger seat when he and his brother were leaving a hotel in Valdosta.

While they were driving, they collided with another truck and Bracewell suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Shands Hospital in Gainsville, Fla. for additional treatment. 

Despite progress, they say that the road to recovery is still long.

Earlier this week, they said that Bracewell's CT scans didn't show any signs of brain damage, but they said he is likely to remain at the hospital for quite some time. They said it might be several weeks. 

"He is still under sedation and trying to get his blood pressure stabilized," Dean wrote.

The community has come together in prayer and support for Bracewell. 

There has been a GoFundMe to help raise money for Bracewell's medical expenses. Currently, that fundraiser has brought in just under $13,500 for Bracewell.

In Dean's Facebook post, he said that Bracewell's family is grateful for the support the community has shown for him. 

"His family wishes to thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers, calls and concerns by the community," Dean wrote. "It has been heartfelt and overwhelming the support given. Please continue to lift Chris and his family in prayer."

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