Nate graduated high school in May, 2025 and spent t he summer training for the Marines. He left for boot camp on September 2nd, his dream achieved. Because of a discrepancy in some medical paperwork, Nate had to come home a few weeks after arriving in San Diego. While he was waiting for his recruiter to get the necessary paperwork together he was in a catastrophic car accident.

On October 4th Nate arrived at a nearby trauma center, fighting for his life. He broke seven bones—including one in his neck—and tore an artery in his heart. Within his first 18 hours in the hospital, he had two major surgeries, one to place a stent in his heart, the other to stabilize his spine around the broken vertebrae. A few days later he would have surgery to put a plate in his hip.

After his first surgery, he was only able to reliably feel his body above his chest. He could barely wiggle the big toe on his left foot. Now, with the same kind of determination that got him into the Marine Corps, after months of hard work he is moving around independently in a wheelchair. He has begun to try to walking with assistance.

By the time he comes home, Nate will have been in the hospital and rehab for a combination of 12 weeks. He has months of outpatient therapy ahead of him.

We are so thankful that we have insurance that has paid for much of his treatment. Not all the bills are in yet and, unfortunately there is a great deal that he needs simply for the tasks of daily living that is not covered. Nate will likely continue to heal and make advances long after his benefits run out. He wants to take advantage of every opportunity his body will give him.