On Sunday evening, September 27, a yearly chore changed Clay and Hilary Howard’s lives forever. Clay was finishing up a long weekend of log splitting in preparation for the winter. What had been an annual winterization task for decades took a devastating turn when Clay's left hand was pulled into the log splitter.

Inside the house, finishing up dinner, Hilary heard Clay’s familiar whistle—the signal that he needed her help. She walked outside directly into a worst-case scenario. Demonstrating incredible bravery and presence of mind under extreme pressure, Hilary managed to apply a life-saving tourniquet, retrieve Clay's severed hand from the machinery, and call 911 all at once.

Because of the severity of the injury, Clay was life-flighted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for emergency surgery. Ultimately, reattachment was not possible, so the specialized surgical team focused their efforts on preparing the amputation in the best way possible to set Clay up for success with a future prosthetic.

Clay is currently in the hospital recovering at Harborview, facing a reality filled with a massive number of unknowns. The trauma he has experienced is horrific, the pain is unimaginable, and this is incredibly traumatic, proving to already be giving them both moments of PTSD. It is a shock to everyone who knows him—Clay is brilliant, capable, and full of life, and it feels completely unbelievable that something this devastating could happen to him.

There has been an incredible outpouring of support. Witnessing the community rally around Clay and Hilary right away has been nothing short of moving, and it is entirely apparent just how deeply loved they both are. Clay needs every ounce of that love and support right now to pull through.

The financial toll of a life-flight, prolonged hospital stays, specialized trauma surgeries, and extensive long-term rehabilitation is overwhelming. We want to ease the stress and burden so they can focus strictly on Clay’s healing.

Please help us wrap them in love. Clay and Hilary have always been the first to show up for others. Now, it’s our turn to show up for them. If you can contribute financially, please know that no amount is too small to make a difference. If you cannot donate, please share this link far and wide and continue keeping Clay in your thoughts as they navigate this long journey ahead.

Thank you for the incredible love, prayers, and generosity you have already shown. It means everything to them.