Get Austen back on his feet!

March 25, 2015
It was just another day at the track for 14 year old, Austen Colclasure.  Austen has been riding dirt bikes his entire life.  This Wednesday he had been practing for about two hours when something went horribly wrong.  Austen was at a slow section of the course when he wrecked.  Wrecks happen, but this particular time, the problem was with the way he landed. 

Austen was rushed to Arkansas Children's Hospital with a broken back, a slight concussion, knot on his forehead, busted nose and he had bit his tongue.  Because the break was mid-chest, the cavity around his lungs began to fill with fluid.  A chest tube was placed.  Due to the fluid build up, the left lung deflated. Austen had no feeling from the chest down.  His entire family rushed to be at his side.

March 26, 2015
Austen had a five hour surgery to realign his back and mend the break.  The surgery went exactly as planned.  After the surgery, he started having feeling a little lower.  The threshold has now moved to his hips.  (Praise the Lord)  Austin was in ICU for 12 days. 
He has since been moved to the Rehabilitation floor to rebuild the strength in his upper body and get him used to sitting up again.  He is currently wearing a back brace and the hope is this will start to awaken his lower half.  
Austen's hospital stay is now expected to be 4-6 weeks.  If he regains feeling, he will be able to go home.  If he does not, he will be transferred to a rehabilitation center that specializes in spinal injuries. 
Austen's family will do anything and everything in their power for a complete recovery.
The accident has already taken a financial toll on Austen's Mom, Brooke and his step dad, Craig. 
Although everyone is praying for a complete recovery, at this point, they cannot predict the outcome.  Most likely Austen will need therapy for a long time to come.  They all hope he will not need another surgery, but if that surgery would allow him to walk again, they will do what it takes. 
If Austen does not regain complete mobility, so much will need to be done.  He will have to have a motarized wheel chair.  A chair lift would have to be added to their vehice (which means they would need a new vehicle), the hallways in their home would need to me widened.  So much will have to be done, and the financial burden will be steep.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for Austen's recovery. 

God Bless