Vance County rallies around local Highway Patrol trooper
Mar. 2—HENDERSON — Vance County residents have come together over the last few weeks to express their support of local Highway Patrol Trooper James Brent Montgomery, who is fighting for his life at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill due to COVID-19.
His wife, Heather Montgomery, is asking the community to keep her husband in their prayers as he battles COVID-19, and is optimistic that some recent minor improvements with his condition are a positive sign that he will recover from the virus.
The trooper is on a heart-lung machine, receiving what's called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation that's purging carbon dioxide from his bloodstream.
"We got a good report this morning," Heather said. "The nurse said that he had a good night and that he remained stable. Some of his lab work actually improved a little, but this will be his second week on ECMO. If he's not doing any better on the ECMO after this week, then we will have to make a decision."
Having been married over the past 23 years, Heather has always been by Brent's side through his commitment to law enforcement and ensuring that he builds a positive relationship with everyone in the community that he serves to protect.
Trooper Montgomery's career has seen him work for the Henderson Police Department, where he was assigned to the drug unit. He also operated as a sheriff's deputy during the early 2000s, later moving over to the Wilson Police Department before taking on a position as a member of the Highway Patrol.
Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow always enjoyed the passion and determination that Montgomery brought to his job on a daily basis and is closely monitoring his ongoing situation as he fights to stay alive.
"He had a great personality," Barrow said. "He was a godly man, and he really appreciates life. Overall, he is a very overwhelming positive guy."
Montgomery was four years away from being eligible for retirement when he was diagnosed with COVID-19, but his wife is hoping that he overcomes the short and long-term effects of the virus so that he can continue to fulfill a role that has meant so much to him throughout his long career.
"I think it's just the brotherhood and helping people that he enjoyed the most," she said. "There are so many people who have come out to check on me and talked about how Brent impacted their lives through a simple car stop or if he had to tell someone that a family member had passed."
Heather vividly recalls one moment in which four intruders were in the process of committing a robbery, but ended up fleeing the scene after Brent pulled over a drunk driver in front of the home. The woman who owned the house reached out to Heather and said it was a miracle from God that Brent showed up when he did.
Heather said that she and Brent always enjoyed having random people express their gratitude towards Brent and his actions while on the job, but she has been thrilled by the amount of support that Vance County has provided while Brent deals with his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell first met Trooper Montgomery when the two attended Vance Senior High and began working together in their own fields once they got older. He said that Brent's determination and compassion helped make everything easier whenever the two crossed paths while on the job.
"Brent and I aren't that far apart in age," Cordell said. "I got to know him and his brother pretty well in school and throughout our careers we worked different types of incidents together. Brent has always been a kind, courteous person and he was always going the extra mile to make sure everyone was taken care of."
Like Barrow, Cordell was saddened when heard about Brent's initial diagnosis and how it progressively got worse over the following days, but he expressed his praise towards everyone in Vance County who has supported Brent in a variety of ways, including at a vigil at the Kerr Lake Country Club on Saturday evening.
"Anytime you find out that someone is dealing with COVID, your immediate attention turns towards offering prayers and wishing that individual a quick recovery," Cordell said. "We have seen this community come together again to support one of our very own, and it's always amazing to see."
The number of texts, phone calls and cards that Heather has received over the last few weeks has been overwhelming for her, but they have also reminded her of how the people of Vance County have repeatedly offered assistance to their neighbors while the pandemic has persisted.
"It's amazing how big this community can be," she said. "We often hear bad things about Henderson, but this community has gone above and beyond anything that I could ever imagine. They are truly letting God's love show through them."
Heather said the upcoming week is going to be very critical for Brent's path to recovery, but she has heard the doctors and nurses express their concerns about his chances of survival, including one nurse who had never seen anyone live from a case as severe as Brent's since the pandemic began.
Barrow said that he plans to stay in touch with Heather and the rest of Montgomery's family so that they can depend on him if they have any questions or concerns going forward.
"All of us are doing what we can to support the family through prayer and moral support," Barrow said. "I reached out to [Montgomery's] brother last week to let him know that we'll be here if there's anything that we can do for him or the family and if they just needed someone to talk to."
Despite the uncertainty of her husband's condition, Heather is confident that he will be able to fully recover as long as local residents keep praying for him, and is asking everyone to share their compassion with others who are also facing health and financial issues during the pandemic.
"I want the community to ramp up their praying," Heather said. "I also want them to love on anybody else that is sick so that they can feel the love we've experienced from the community."
