January 7, 2020
Today was Hunter’s first full day at Craig Hospital. Tonight is our first night for Nathan and me at our apartment, which is a part of family housing through Craig. In the midst of the hustle of the day and evening, I left my journal in Hunter’s room. I use my journaling to be a guide for nightly updates so tonight is top of mind.
The biggest PRAISE I want to share from today is when Hunter had his leg muscles tested today to see if they would respond to muscle stimulation, they did. This is the positive result we had been praying for and will allow him to continue to exercise his legs in rehab.
Hunter was fitted for his new manual wheelchair with his PT and had a tour around Craig with his OT and intern. As Hunter rolled out of the therapy gym with his PT following for his first spin on his new wheels, my heart skipped and I felt like he was going into his first day of school. Any parent can relate to those new experiences both for children and us. We’re all nervous and filled with anticipation. I let my mind wander to what the last weeks have brought us.
Joy. Trauma. Hope. Purpose. Heartache. Uncertainty. Trust. A new normal.
Two weeks ago was Christmas Eve. We gathered as a family for Christmas Eve church at Sundahl Lutheran in Aneta, N.D. Following church, 33 members of our family feasted and celebrated at my parent’s farm home. Hunter sang in the church choir, sang in our own family Christmas program at home and proudly shared gifts with family members he had chosen and purchased on his own.
It feels so long ago. But I share it with all of you as a reminder of the importance of gathering, celebrating and sharing in purposeful, carved out time with your loved ones. I snapped a picture of our three kids in front of the tree at church on Christmas Eve and tonight I share it with you.
Create experiences and share them with your loved ones. Take pictures. Life changes and while we keep focusing on the path ahead, hour by hour, day by day, we grateful for where we’ve come from.
Over the past two weeks, God has shown a far bigger plan that we could have ever known on what felt like the perfect family Christmas. We can see now His provision to prepare us for this difficult journey, His protection over Hunter in the skiing accident and even purpose in the pain and suffering.
The future looks and feels drastically different for Hunter and our family. A week ago we were focusing simply hour by hour to have Hunter medically stable in the ICU. Tonight Hunter talked to me about his day tomorrow and what we could expect in his rehab schedule.
Since Hunter started at UND, his football coaches and team have used the theme #daybyday for their preparation. We’re in day by day mode now, focusing on small, daily goals.
I asked Hunter tonight if he had a worship song or Bible verse he would like to share in this update. He said, “Actually, I was listening to this song a lot ahead of the accident and now it really speaks to me.” He played “Come Alive” by Hillsong Worship and it’s how we closed our evening as a family.
Lyrics include:
Come alive, come alive, come alive dry bones
Come alive, come alive, come alive dry bones
Awake, arise
Inhale the light
Come alive, come alive
Are you waiting on heaven
Or is it waiting on you
For the Holy Ghost is already in the room
So you better get ready
‘Cause who knows what He’ll do
Where the four winds blow there’s a
Breakthrough, breaking through
Prayer requests are below. You can lift these to the Lord, anytime, anywhere and I am praying for each of you, praying for us. I don’t know all of your names or faces but the Lord does and hears our prayers and blesses us in ways we cannot ever plan, know or see. This journey is helping all of us to “come alive” I believe!
For Hunter’s core/ abdomen to heal and regain strength. This will help him greatly in his strength and rehab
For patience in a long road of recovery, this is a marathon
For continued healing of his fusion of bones from T4-T-9 and miraculous healing of his spinal cord
For safe travels for my husband, Nathan, who is going to fly back to North Dakota this week. He’ll be going back and forth between N.D. and Colo. this winter
For each hour of rehabilitation that Hunter can have the motivation and focus to accomplish all his body is capable of reaching and for him to see and feel #daybyday progress
For me. We all have low points and down days. I feel those more now. Please pray for my perseverance to stay the course, even when it feels uncomfortable and unknown. God is teaching me through this journey to trust Him more than ever before
For fellow spinal cord injury patient, Todd to gain strength to come to Craig Hospital. We love Todd’s family. I missed not seeing them today. We are hopeful Todd and Hunter can push each other through rehab as they have similar injuries and interests. You can follow Todd’s CaringBridge updates here for specific prayer requests: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/toddstonebergand
If you’re able, please consider donating to Todd’s Go Fund Me as it builds his future: https://www.gofundme.com/f/1uk6mj7go0
Thank you to each of you who continue to diligently and faithfully pray. Thank you for showing up and delivering us joy, comfort, and care through your actions and words. Thank you to those who generously give to build a new future for our son, Hunter. Thank you to those who are filling all the gaps in our lives. Thank you for speaking truth into our lives and most of all, spreading the Gospel even in a season of suffering.
-Katie