Update on Antonio

After graduation in May, Antonio took a role as an intern at Teen Challenge in Oklahoma. On the night of Monday, August 3rd, he was about an hour away in Joplin, MO and was hit from behind. He was thrown from his motorcycle and we are pretty sure his helmet came off before impact based on injuries and what the state trooper told Chris. He was care flighted to Joplin and then to Mercy Hospital in Springfield as it is a trauma one facility. Hospital staff tracked us down and called us on Tuesday. Chris drove up immediately and I got the kids to family and flew up the next day. 

Antonio sustained bleeding/swelling on his brain, 10-12 facial fractures, 1 skull fracture (they stitched up), 4 neck fractures, a broken leg, other body wounds, and was on a ventilator.  His leg required surgery and they had to put in a rod and screws and also had to sew up a wound that went down to his bone on his foot.  By the grace of God, his other fractures did not require surgery which is pretty miraculous!

After 5 days in the Brian Trauma ICU, they were able to move him to the Brian Trauma step down unit.

He is making positive progress, but is in a lot of pain.  In PT today, he stood for 40 seconds which was a big win! The goal right now is to get him to a point physically where he can be transported and accepted into a Traumatic Brian Injury In-Patient Rehabilitation Facility.   From our understanding, there are not a ton of those in the US, but there are two in Houston. Please pray with us that he can get transferred to one of those soon so he can be near home. The distance is very difficult and is taking a toll on our family.

Chris has been at the hospital the whole time and I came for a few days last week, flew home to get the other kiddos and flew back today with Thaddeus & JJ.  Samuel has started school and Moriah starts her senior year tomorrow. She will stay with friends until I get back on Friday.

Antonio is healing very well and has been so kind through the pain. He has a long & tough road ahead of him, but it is a miracle he is alive. We are grateful for the mercy shown to him & our family. 

Thank you to everyone who has prayed, reached out, and sent support. We are truly blessed and so very grateful for all of you!

I have never been to a hospital that has a bible reading and prayer spoken over the intercom to the entire hospital.  The scripture read the first time we heard it was:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

He cares for us and is near!

Love you all!

-Chris & Heather