TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – What started as a nine-hour drive from Texas back home to Tuscaloosa is now a long road of healing ahead for the Cleveland family.

Jamel and Jasmine Cleveland took their sons, 2-year-old Jahziel and 4-year-old Judah, and their daughter, 5-year-old Justice, to Dallas, Texas for spring break to visit Jasmine’s sister.

“We were thinking about going to the beach, but Judah wanted to come here, so we decided to make a trip up here,” Jamel said.

The Cleveland family went shopping, to the circus, and took a train tour of Dallas. One of their last stops before heading out on Sunday was to Prayer Mountain.

Before leaving Prayer Mountain, Jasmine wrote in a Facebook post that “my sweet Judah blew a kiss to the crosses and said, ‘I love you Jesus.'”

“Knowing that he’s not here, he’s not coming home, he’s not coming back with us, it’s different,” Jamel said.

The Cleveland family is still trying to fathom the fact their son tragically passed away.

On March 16, around 4 a.m., the Cleveland family made their way back home.

“The kids can see the city of Dallas light up and I can avoid the traffic,” Jamel said.

Unfortunately, during that time-of-day there was another driver on the road who by state law should not have been, according to Texas police

The family was in their SUV when a Ford F-250 hit the Cleveland from behind. The two people in the truck were arrested according to Sunnyvale Police Department.

33-year-old Dakota Chase is charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault in connection with the crash.

While the driver walked away alive – the Cleveland’s lives are forever changed.

Jamel and Jasmine’s son Judah was killed in the crash. Their daughter Justice, and Jasmine were sent to the hospital in critical condition. Additionally, their 2-year-old suffered minor injuries.

“Your parent skills, it’s still there – knowing you still have a child here that needs your help, that’s what’s kind of keeping me going,” Jamel said.

“Judah was a charismatic, outgoing child who always had a smile on his face,” Brittany Phillips said.

Phillips and Jasmine became close friends in 2017.

“Jasmine and Jamel, as long as I’ve known them, have been of service to the community and to the church,” Phillips said. “They’re people of faith.”

That faith is one of the things Phillips remembers she and Jasmine talked about in the weeks and days leading up to the family’s Spring Break trip to Dallas.

“[Jasmine] was saying ‘Judah is just becoming so obsessed with Jesus,’” Phillips said.

Faith is what led Jasmine to starting Revival. The Tuscaloosa based non-profit supports grieving mothers.

“She actually goes into the hospital after the loss and talks with mothers,” Phillips said. “She’s been a great resource in the community for them.”

Now, Jasmine is having to grieve the loss of her own child.

“She’s taking it hard,” Jamel said. “Justice, she wants Wendy’s right now, and Wendy’s was Judah’s favorite thing.”

“Right now I can’t even understand what they’re going through, just that loss has been hurtful,” Phillips said.

March 31 would be Judah’s fifth birthday. Prior to their spring break trip in Dallas, Jasmine told Phillips how Judah kept about the love he had for Jesus.

“We just want people to rally around, even through prayer, just sending light and love to them,” Phillips said.

If you want to help the Cleveland family during this time, you can click this link to donate to their GoFundMe.