Hello, my name is Katrina and my son Samuel, who turned 6 on Tuesday, March 10th, had a spinal stroke on Thursday, March 12th. That morning, my son got up and got ready for school like he did every day. We said our goodbyes, and I told my sons I love them like I always do. I dropped him and my other son off, and I watched Samuel walk through the gate. About 1 hour later, my son's school called me, letting me know something had happened to my son, and in the background, I heard my son screaming a scream I've never heard before. I got into my car and raced to his school. When I got there, my son was in the nurse's office, barely moving but screaming an awful scream. My son was telling me his body was frozen and his head was hurting. The school called the ambulance, and once they arrived, we went to the hospital. My son was then transferred to another hospital by helicopter. We've been in the ICU for 2 weeks now. Learning my son had an acute C5 spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the neck down was like being hit by a train. How could my freshly turned 6-year-old have a stroke? My family and I have been trying to wrap our heads around this all. My 3 other sons have been missing their brother so much.

His father and I had to step away from work to be with our sons and be there for Samuel. Our lives are forever changed. But my son will always have his family to help him every step of the way.