On Thursday night, April 23, our lives changed in an instant. Tim had just come home from work and suggested we take advantage of the recent rain to safely burn some debris out in the field. We gathered everything and headed out. I was about 100 feet away, talking with my dad who had just stopped by, when I suddenly turned and saw a massive fireball, and saw Tim engulfed in flames. I ran to him screaming. Somehow, through it all, he remembered to drop and roll. By the time I reached him, the fire was out—but his shirts had been burned off his body. It was the most terrifying moment we’ve ever experienced. I rushed him into the car and drove straight to Monticello Hospital. We live 9 miles out of town, and I couldn’t wait for an ambulance. The team there stabilized him before transferring him by ambulance to the HCMC Burn Unit in Minneapolis. Doctors have told us that Tim has burns over 28% of his body. During a procedure on the second day, he had to be put under sedation, and complications led to him needing a breathing tube. Thankfully, that was removed on Sunday. He is now on oxygen and a feeding tube, but he’s able to talk. The road ahead is long and painful. Bandage changes are extremely difficult, requiring sedation for now. Each day, they try to reduce the sedation and manage his pain with medication. His left arm and stomach are the most severely burned areas, while his neck, ear, and face are expected to heal on their own—though with burns, things can always change. Surgery is tentatively scheduled for the end of next week. We’ve been told that after surgery, the pain and recovery process will feel like starting over from day one.

Through it all, we know that God was watching over us. Tim is still here, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery. We are so incredibly grateful for that. However, the journey ahead will be long. Tim is expected to remain in the hospital for 6-8 weeks or so, followed by continued care at home, including ongoing bandage changes and pain management. The funds raised will help cover mounting medical bills, travel expenses, Tim’s lost income, and even hospital parking. We are so grateful for the support and prayers from our friends, family, and community. Any help you can give—whether through a donation or by sharing our story—means the world to us as we face this difficult journey. Thank you for standing with us.