SPEAKER_02 0:00

Here comes a sun do. Here comes a sunda say it's all right.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Hello, Fortitude audience. Thank you so much for tuning in today. I have some dear friends with us. Trenton and Missy Bass are sitting here with my amazing husband Amos. Hello. You guys want to say hello? Hello. About a year ago, when we launched Fortitude, uh, one of the first people on the list that I wanted to interview was Trenton, which we did. And we launched the podcast with Trenton B and I think one or two or three, I'm not even sure. I just know that you were right away in the beginning. And so we wanted to have you back because a lot has changed in your life. And then I really wanted to have Missy here because through the past seven years of us living where we live, being neighbors, it's been a huge blessing. And we've watched this entire journey with you guys. And um we want to hear both perspective as mother and as son and just everything that's all happened and hear about your nonprofit. And so thank you again for being here with us today. Thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_05 1:23

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

So I think I'd like to start out with you, Trenton. Um, I know that if people want to hear the whole side of Trenton, um, not the whole side, but going back to the beginning of when the accident happened in the football game, you really went into a lot of detail in the first episode that we interviewed with you. And so instead of going fully into all of that, I think um a little bit of an update of where you're at in your life. And then we're gonna spy or go back around here with Missy and go to that moment. And so give us a quick update of where you're at in life.

SPEAKER_05 1:56

Yeah, so I graduated May of 22 from SDSU, Debjax, uh, with mechanical engineering. Uh I'd kind of been doing interviews towards the end of my uh the of the last semester there. And a couple weeks after I graduated, I got offered a job at a company called Raven Industries. Um, and so at the end of May of 22, I started with them. So I've been there a little about a year and a half now.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 2:30

Uh, and it's been awesome. I could not have better things to say about a company. I mean, granted, it's my first real job, and so I don't know a ton about what's out there, but I can't imagine companies get much better than this. I mean, they treat their employees awesome. Uh, they've been nothing but, you know, good to me. And I think the thing I like about it most is you really couldn't tell like who the like the hierarchy. You know, everyone kind of is on the same level. Obviously, some people have their own office, but uh no one's afraid to kind of speak their mind to anyone, or there's no uh looking down to other people. So cool. I thought that's nice, yeah, is very cool. Um and uh yeah, I think it's been going really well.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

I love hearing that when you got the job because you you did did intern there.

SPEAKER_05 3:24

I did not intern there, no.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

You had a different intern, or you interned in Sioux Falls somewhere else in Sioux Falls somewhere else, yeah. Okay, so this I that's a that's a new one for me because I thought you interned there and then got the role. So that's even better.

SPEAKER_05 3:37

Yeah, I think it was three interviews, and so I mean, I had never really interviewed for a job either, and I was interviewing for a few other companies too, and so going through the whole interview process and getting weaned down. I didn't think I had a shot, but you did really not really.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

So I remember touring the high school, uh I think it was junior year before the accidents, maybe it was after, and you had done a 3D model of our little town, the school. Okay, of the school, yeah, and it was by far the most intricate thing there. And so I remember thinking this kid's gonna go somewhere. This is amazing. It was it after the accident or before? That was after, yeah. Okay, so then with that, it was still amazing.

SPEAKER_05 4:21

Yeah, so I had gotten back, and it was kind of, I think, in my transition period between like when I got back from rehab and when the second special was gonna start. So I was kind of just like hanging around in the computer lab. Yeah, and they had just gotten a 3D printer. And so one of the teachers like asked me to get something.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

I'll just bust out the super complicated model of the school and like blow everyone away.

SPEAKER_05 4:46

So I asked for some blueprints of the school and then did some did some modeling and got a three model. Did some modeling, he's being mod it's being modest. Model modest. That's exactly what I do now. I'm a designer for them. And so I, you know, working with 3D models on the computer all day.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

So wonderful. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

Well, see, I mean, like we talk about you just you said, I don't think I was gonna get the job. Like, I knew you were gonna get the job. I saw the models.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

All right, awesome.

SPEAKER_05 5:11

Well, I think I saw the number of applicants. I was like, ah, no way, but here we are.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

That's nice. Trin, we're proud of you. Do you um did you enjoy your college experience?

SPEAKER_05 5:21

Yeah, I really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_01 5:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 5:23

Uh, especially, I mean, after my injury, it was nice being away, but it was also close enough where if I needed to come home for something, I still could. And so I the pretty much the whole my whole college career, I came home like every two or three weeks. Sometimes it was a month, but that was really nice for a laundry, b, food.

SPEAKER_03 5:48

I mean, he wanted to get away from me, but he wanted to come back when he needed something.

SPEAKER_05 5:52

But no, I mean, I still had a pretty average college college kid life. You know, I got out with my friends. I still, you know, went to class and participated in everything. I had to go to sporting events, and so I mean, and obviously it looked different than I had envisioned in my high school days, but ultimately it was pretty much the same.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

You know, I was talking to one of your one of the moms in Hills that one of your really good friends with that you I think you went to school with. And um, he was, she was giving me this really neat story about like going through the libraries or going through different places, and now he notices everywhere where it is not up to par. Like, you cannot get a wheelchair between these bookshelves. Do you is this not ADA compliant? Like he's he like throws a ruckus with certain places now because he's been around you and he sees things differently. And I love that. You probably know what I'm talking about. We you can mention him, but it's I like what it just a different perspective, right? Because he has his best friend is in a wheelchair now, so he's always thinking of everybody else. Yeah, it's wonderful.

SPEAKER_05 7:01

It's good to have people like that. I mean, that will I mean it's good to not be too outspoken about it, but to always keep it in the back of your mind and realize and kind of yeah, like I said, keep it on the back of your mind when you're going places like, oh, this probably isn't right, or or even if you see someone out, like, oh, I think I could help them just something in the back of your mind. Um, but I'm not an outspoken person at all. So when I see stuff, it usually doesn't even bother me, but rarely will I say something myself.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

Yeah. Just kind of roll with it.

SPEAKER_05 7:38

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 7:39

So that day, the day that your accident happened. Um, if you could uh just give a brief the brief of that moment, and then Missy, I want to flop it over to what was going on with you and Jeff. Okay. So mom and dad, and when Trenton Falls. But Trenton, can you give me give me that beginning of the story at the football game?

SPEAKER_05 8:03

Yeah, I guess I can kind of set the scene. So it was the second game of my senior year. Uh, we were up in Mountain Lake, uh, big rival of ours. We knew it was gonna be a tough game. Uh it was back and forth all game. You know, we kind of had a younger team, and so getting them used to playing in a real, like live competitive game. Um, and so yeah, it was kind of tough the whole game, you know, getting the young guys used to used to stuff. Um and so it was coming down to the fourth quarter, and we were up 28 to 20, and there was about a minute and a half left, and they were kind of driving on us. And uh they were they don't know exactly, they were somewhere between the 30 and 40 yard line, so not a lot of real estate left to go. And uh it's third down, and I'm on our sideline playing cornerback, and I realize that it's run right away, and so I get around my blocker, and I'm kind of kind of running back towards the middle of the field, so he'd be coming from my left to my right, and I'm kind of going straight forward, and I kind of have to dive forward or lunge forward a little bit, and he just comes from the left side of my body and just kind of the momentum of him running, like his leg just kind of knead the side of my head and just kind of snap my head sideways. It didn't look bad. I mean, I have the videotape of the hit, and it doesn't look bad at all. It's just it's a hit that I've made, you know, hundreds, if not a thousand times before that. And so yeah, that's kind of where it was at.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

So you um that's interesting because I remember I've heard this story so many different times, and it came from him hitting you with his knee. It wasn't because you blocked with your head down, right?

SPEAKER_05 10:00

Yeah, no, it wasn't uh dive forward, it wasn't like head to head or no, like a weird angle or anything like that. It was pretty much just a a straight up tackle from the side, and uh yeah, looks super normal on tape.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

So oh man. So you you drop to the ground and you have gone into the most beautiful explanation about how you really didn't panic in the moment, but your teammates were like, get up, get up, get up. And in that moment, there was pretty much silence on the football field. Like people, um, I think that I've watched that portion, and it really is like this silence at a football game, and that doesn't happen very often. So, Missy, in that moment as a mom, what was what was going on? Yeah, so excuse me.

SPEAKER_03 10:55

Regular tackle. I'm probably a typical mom that's talking most of the time and maybe sometimes watching the game, but uh you know, the the play happened and Trent goes down or somebody goes down on the field. I really didn't know who it was at the time. And so, you know, the more time passes, the quieter it gets because people are waiting for the player to get up. And I always just kind of watch for number 28, the number going off the field to make sure that it's not, you know, your son. And I didn't see number 28 going off the field, so and that by that time people were going like, um, I think it's Trenton, you know, just kind of whispering, I think it's Trent Trenton. And you know, then your kind your heart kind of just sinks, and it's just uh yeah. I mean, my mind didn't initially go to like the worst or anything like that. But and you know, usually I feel like a mom would probably want to run out onto the field, but I didn't have that at all. I do remember um Jeff, um, who wasn't sitting right next to me, but him and Dalton, who was a coach, but he was standing up in the stands calling plays. Um they both went down and uh people started just um I felt hands starting to just fall in my back and um just all over, like hands were all over me, and um people started like holding hands in the crowd and praying. And um yeah, it was just like crazy how the peace um was there. Like I didn't panic at all either. Like Trenton felt the peace, and I'm sure it was because of all the prayers that were taking place, you know, in the field and and in the stands. But um yeah, it's just and I think that the prayers also kept me from wanting to run down there because I don't think that that would have helped any to have a hysterical mom down there.

SPEAKER_05 12:58

I would have been mad. And I know we would have to be.

SPEAKER_03 13:04

I know my kid too, so I knew he wouldn't have wanted me down there. So um Dalton's an EMT and Jeff's on the fire department rescue squad too. So I knew that he was in good hands with them going down there.

SPEAKER_05 13:17

So And you would have been ball and that's true.

SPEAKER_03 13:20

However, I did not cry at all. Um it's just crazy how just yeah, the peace, the peace was just there, and I'm I know now that it was everybody praying for peace and just so he gets in the ambulance, they get him on the stretcher and in the ambulance, and then I don't know that I've heard if the game ended.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

Did they finish the game?

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Yeah, so because it was something. I don't know if this is insensitive or not.

SPEAKER_05 13:49

So who won? Yeah, no, because it was, I mean, such a close game and such a big like rivalry. They they went on to go with uh they were the runners up of state that year.

SPEAKER_01 14:01

That's right.

SPEAKER_05 14:02

Yeah, but no, we ended up uh, like I said, it was third down. So then the next down, I made the tackle, so it was fourth down, and we stopped them and then kneeled it out to win the game. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:12

Oh man. I think uh now I remember because the when you came to at the hospital, they let you know that that they that you won.

SPEAKER_05 14:18

Even at the first hospital, just in Wyndham.

SPEAKER_01 14:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 14:21

Yeah. So after I got my CT scan done and stuff like that, my brother, who was the coach, was there and said that they won.

unknown 14:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 14:30

And you're probably like, yes. Exactly. Like the tackle. Oh so when when the news came through, and because everyone's praying, everyone's praying, you're like, he's gonna be okay, he's gonna be okay. And then that news of Trenton is paralyzed. What in that moment that's another place I want to go a little bit of where your heart was.

SPEAKER_03 14:56

Well, again, I think God protected me because uh I really didn't know what a C5, C6 break really meant. Like, and they kept saying that they needed to get him into surgery to decompress the spinal cord. That really never sank into me, but I could see the panic maybe on Jeff's eyes a little bit. He had to like leave the hospital building for a while. And um, you know, my other two boys kind of hung around and tried to, you know, make sure that we kept calm and they were vitranting too, and um, yeah, just saying the words that we needed to hear. But I guess I really never thought too far in advance, like what does this really mean?

SPEAKER_05 15:36

Um I think we were probably in the same boat. I mean, her or I really didn't know like know what to think at all about any of this stuff. I mean, obviously, my dad and my middle brother kind of knew about this stuff just from being in the fire department and stuff like that. My oldest brother is a pharmacist, and so he would did all of the anatomy and stuff. And so they kind of understood kind of what this all meant. But I mean, I had really had no idea.

SPEAKER_03 16:08

I do remember Colton saying um he came into the hospital and said, you know, what level is it? And I said, I think it's C5, C6. He's like, Oh, well, that's good because the the higher the break, the the worse it is. And that's just kind of like you're like, okay, is that by the rib cage? Oh no, yeah, I didn't even know it's C cervical spine. I know that now, but man.

SPEAKER_01 16:32

So uh you're all at the hospital. The the one thing that amazed me, I guess, because we were brand new to the community, was the community, right? The community that wrapped their arms around all of you and the support, it it just spread like wildfire.

SPEAKER_03 16:49

Yeah, it was one good thing about social media is was that night. Like it spread so fast, and just people just all over were praying so fast and around the world.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

Yeah. Like it just it went so far, so fast. And um, the way people rallied around with your logo, you know, and that logo was going up in every single window, every car, bumper stickers. Like I'd be in Sioux Falls and would see it, and I'd be like, oh man, Trenton, Trenton. I always knew Trenton was gonna change the world, but he's literally changing the world in a way that we didn't ex, you know, no one would have planned it or expected it, you know? And so now looking back in you still see those signs around town.

SPEAKER_03 17:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 17:34

All the time, yeah. There's so many people. I mean, even in college, and to this day, like being in public and someone people recognize me everywhere, and they're like, Are you trending?

SPEAKER_03 17:46

We were down there.

SPEAKER_05 17:47

Someone gave it away in a wheelchair. Yeah, right. We've been in Arizona.

SPEAKER_03 17:51

We've been in Arizona before, and somebody recognized them down there.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

It's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 17:57

It's seriously, it's everywhere I go.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

And everything you love is fame. Yeah. Not at all.

SPEAKER_05 18:03

Yeah, that's not me.

SPEAKER_01 18:04

Not at all. But that is, you know, look at how God has used you in all of this. And it's been really profound and beautiful to see how Game Plan for Hope has, I mean, the lives you're changing with your ministry and your nonprofit is is pretty substantial as well. So I love, um, unless there's more that you would like to share.

SPEAKER_03 18:26

Well, I'll just say one thing about the community. Um, so you said that, you know, it it got out like right away. And I just remember, so they ended up letting me ride in the helicopter with Trenton, which is not usually allowed. Okay. It's actually the only time a guy can ask, How much do you weigh? Because the pilot said, How much do you weigh? Uh, so he ended up letting me go. But I just remember my phone battery was getting really low. And um, I got a text from one of my friends from from Curcio and um just a Christian retreat that we have been involved with for years, but it was just a Bible verse and just saying and praying for you, and it was just the scripture that I needed to hear at that time, and then you know, my phone pretty much died after that. So it was I I think I shut it off just to save that 1% battery um in case I needed to make a phone call. But um, I guess I would just want to tell anybody that don't ever doubt like reaching out to somebody if you hear that it's immediate because you don't know when a person needs to hear that. And um, yeah, that just kept me calm at that moment.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

Have you followed back up with that person? Oh, yeah, I see her all the time.

SPEAKER_03 19:46

Good. And all the talks that I give about about this, I always bring that up because you know, so many times we we want to reach out and say something, but then we doubt ourselves and say, oh well, they're not gonna get it anyway, or they're gonna have so many people reaching out, but you know, just do it. It doesn't hurt anything.

SPEAKER_01 20:05

No, it doesn't. We talk about the nudge, following through on that nudge. Just if you've someone comes to mind or you hear about something, even if you do not know the person, you were I I really believe you're not stepping into um you're not invasive. I don't think it's an invasive thing. I think it's just follow your heart and what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do and just do it. Because you don't know how it might affect or the timing, how the timing might just be.

SPEAKER_03 20:30

Because there were hundreds and hundreds of other texts that I didn't get to read because of everything that happened after that. But that one was the one I needed to read at the time.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

So that's really great advice. Do you have anything you want to ask?

SPEAKER_00 20:48

Um I have strange questions.

SPEAKER_01 20:53

Like I I I tend to I keep going. So I like to look at him and say, what what else do you think?

SPEAKER_00 20:59

Well, maybe the audience is thinking the same thing I am. Like you're you're laying there and you're and your nose itches, right? I mean, are you is that a thing? Are you is there it's just isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 21:10

How many times did you comfort?

SPEAKER_05 21:12

So when I was laying on the field, I made the tackle and I was laying face down on the ground, uh-huh. Right. And just through the force of the tackle, like my chin strap had slid up over my mouth.

unknown 21:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:23

So my mouth guard was in my mouth, my chin strap was over my mouth. Oh, and I was just like laying there. And so my coaches were asking me questions and this and that. And you're like, and I was like super mumbled, and they're like, Oh, I can't hear what he says, I can't hear what he says. And then by the time my dad got to the down to the field, he's like, His chin strap is over his mouth. So he took my chin strap off.

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Yeah, because in that moment you're like, I can't get it. I can't, right? That would have been, did that not? That didn't scare you.

SPEAKER_05 21:51

No, no. I I had never I everyone asked me, you know, like, were you panicking or could could you move? Or anything like that. I I don't know if I could move at that moment or if I was physically unable to. Okay. But I I wasn't like panicking to try to get up. And so I I really don't know if I could have moved in that moment. Uh, because there was just such a like a calm and a peace about it that I just wasn't. I mean, probably because I didn't know what was going on could be a big part of it. Obviously, the the prayers and just the peace that God gives me. But yeah, no, there was no panic.

SPEAKER_00 22:32

Wow. Amazing. What um what is I mean, emotions are high in that moment or tough. So fast forward, I don't know, say like a couple weeks. What are you what are you both feeling just in those first couple of weeks? Is it a roller coaster?

SPEAKER_03 22:49

Well, I just remember you go going back to the itching of the nose, just because either Jeff or I stayed in the same hospital room as him like all the time. Because there were things like that. Like his nose itched and he couldn't itch it. So who would ask if we could do that? I mean, just little things like that I kind of forget about until you mention it.

SPEAKER_05 23:12

I don't remember that.

SPEAKER_04 23:14

It's gotta be itched.

SPEAKER_03 23:14

So but I mean, and that just that just you know makes you realize that I mean it was kind of a big thing, you know.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Like a lot to learn really fast and adjust to really fast.

SPEAKER_05 23:25

Right, yeah. And so for me, I think for all of us, it was obviously a roller coaster of emotions. Um, just obviously the whole unknown of adult. And then so, you know, being scared about the future for one, um, and then everything else going on in life, but then also having the high of like having your friends in the community being there for you and kind of still having that those moments of normalcy. Um, and so yeah, I think it was a huge roller coaster of emotions through the first few weeks for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:01

Yeah. And when he was in the ICU, like there were so many people that came up to the hospital, not necessarily just to see him, but that's just to pray with us that they had to give us our own waiting room down the hallways. Like literally, there was probably down the hall, taking a number. I've seen some pictures, 60 people in the waiting room at one time. And like I said, at the time he couldn't get that many uh visitors in the ICU, but they were just there. They weren't, they were just there to pray.

unknown 24:30

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 24:30

Yeah, I think someone, if someone walked through the front door of the hospital, they just automatically ask, here for Trenton. Yeah, that's neat.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

You know, which says so much about your family too. Yeah, I've the community is awesome, but it says so much about your family and the way you've raised your kids, your three boys, and who they are and their character and how they have shown up as young men in the community. Just think about like, good job, mom. Yeah. For real. And you and Jeff, like, it's really neat to see. You guys both graduated from the same little small town. Um, so your families and generations have been a part of the community, and therefore it's it was like, heck yeah, we are gonna go and be a family, whether they were related to you or not. It's like everyone, that's why we really love love living.

SPEAKER_03 25:21

I always said when our kids were growing up around town, our kids are our kids are everybody else's kids because they just watched out for our kids.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

Watched out for you and was watching out for you, if you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_05 25:35

I definitely spent more time away from home growing up than at home.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

That's probably true. And now people are always at your house, which I love. Like you always see a lot of cars there because they come to come to hang out with each went.

SPEAKER_00 25:47

Um I do have the first couple weeks, Missy, are you are you sleeping? How are you doing emotionally?

SPEAKER_03 25:57

Um I slept very lightly because I was always, you know, kind of like when you have a new baby. You sleep but with one ear open all the time. Like I wanted to make sure that if he needed anything, I was there.

SPEAKER_00 26:11

So yeah. So you're probably getting really fatigued over time.

SPEAKER_03 26:16

Yeah, I know I didn't sleep for the first long time, a couple days, to the point where I got so tired that I finally couldn't function. Yeah. And I was so emotional. Remember my son Dalton, I would be just crying reading through these texts that I was trying to catch up on and respond to. And he's like, Why don't you just stop reading those and go lay down? So I did. And I did sleep for a couple hours, and this was, you know, after, yeah, I was probably up for at least 48 hours because I had woken up at four the morning of the accident to go to go train.

SPEAKER_04 26:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:57

And then um, that happened, and then his surgery wasn't until you know one o'clock in the morning, and then we didn't sleep all night.

SPEAKER_00 27:04

You said to go train and then go go like I was doing personal training.

SPEAKER_03 27:08

No, I was doing personal training. So I had to be at the gym by five. Wow. So it was a long day. Two days, I should say.

SPEAKER_00 27:17

How was Jeff doing?

SPEAKER_03 27:19

You know, I mean, he was strong, but I could tell he was worried. Um, there was definite worry. Um, like I said, he he knew more just because he, you know, he's just educated um in the medical field a little bit more than I am. So was it what is the um We paced a lot in the hospital or in the hospital while he was in surgery for sure.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

Yeah. For uh a dad, a husband who's going through this, what what did Jeff do that really made a difference to both of you?

SPEAKER_03 27:55

Well, I remember him we were getting around Trenton's bed and surrounding and just praying. And I remember Trenton even praying um after Jeff got done. And something that we probably didn't do a whole lot before that as a family, his pray, but we we all got around his bed and put our hands on him and prayed. And I just remember Trenton even praying, and of course he was praying for everybody else instead of himself. But but that's you know one thing that stuck out. Plus, Jeff was very instrumental in taking care of all the stuff with the insurance because that's what I was gonna say.

SPEAKER_05 28:34

That was what I guess I noticed the most uh in the hospitals is I mean, he always seemed like he knew what he was doing, taking care of the insurance and talking with the staff and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02 28:48

So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:50

That sounds like a really good division of uh responsibilities. I mean, he he stepped up as the spiritual leader, he stepped up as the admin leader to the administrative work and let you focus on just just being mom and being caretaker.

SPEAKER_02 29:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 29:04

And um just you guys played your taking care of the stuff that no one wants to take care of, right? Yeah, sure. It's kind of the stuff that it seemed like he knew how to do. And yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:18

And even if he didn't, he probably just figured it out.

SPEAKER_05 29:20

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 29:21

I think it was good for him too because it kept him busy. Yeah. And kept his mind off of, you know, reality. Yeah, right. And where your mind wants to go to the worst and to the future, and you know, and scary.

SPEAKER_01 29:37

And through this process, Jeff is doing the stuff that needs to get done, but yet again, there's four months out. There's five, six, there's a year. What are we gonna need to help Trenton be successful in his his new life? Right. And you guys. And so Craig Institute was where you decided, or like you guys did all the research on tons of different places that you could have brought Trenton. And how would how did you guys land on Craig?

SPEAKER_03 30:07

Do you want to answer that, or do you want me to? Um we basically were told about the couple different ones just from people reaching out to us through social media. Um, hey, you got to check out Craig Hospital because our you know, son or daughter was there and it's you know world-known. And so we heard of Craig that way, and then Madonna down in um Lincoln was brought up too. So basically they flew reps in for us to interview with. So Trenton and all us as a family got to talk to them and ask questions, and um it basically came down to, you know, Craig was 12 hours away, and you know, Lincoln was a lot closer, but uh they had a teen program called um teen rehab at Craig. And uh that was kind of big. And if he would have gone to Lincoln, he would have been put in the Peds unit, and there was only like uh one other young child there, so just be more efficient. It was gonna be hard. I mean, I can let Trent talk about that, but I know it was it was a difficult decision because he didn't want to be that far away from his friends, yeah. Because friends were big at that point, like seeing them every day was a huge thing for him.

SPEAKER_05 31:24

Right, and I can think back to that moment, and I'm not sure if I'm biased in my thoughts now because I know or just because of the situation.

SPEAKER_04 31:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 31:35

Um, but I remember thinking, you know, back then that I didn't want to be in the Peds unit. And so that was kind of the biggest thing for me. It was like I didn't feel like someone who needed to be in a PEADE unit.

SPEAKER_04 31:47

Right.

SPEAKER_05 31:48

Um, and so that kind of was a turnoff for Madonna. Um at that point I didn't realize how good Craig Hospital was. Um but yeah, I mean a world-renowned hospital for spinal cord and brain injury rehab. And so ultimately it was definitely the correct choice. And while I was out there, there were uh probably eight to 14 kids, somewhat around my age. And so that was just a huge part of the rehabilitation process.

SPEAKER_01 32:21

Right. Are you do you still keep in contact with any of them?

SPEAKER_05 32:25

Um not I mean, I don't really text them. I keep in keep up with them via social media every once in a while.

SPEAKER_03 32:34

So we're still on a um Facebook group page for the track families. Okay. Um, I don't know. I'm probably more in touch with the parents than what he is with the kids, but yeah, we definitely stay in touch.

SPEAKER_05 32:49

Explain what track kids team rehab at Craig.

SPEAKER_01 32:53

Okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_05 32:54

Track.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

Okay. And while you were there, you did have a lot of visitors. Like your friends still did travel out to come and visit you periodically. Because you're out there for how long?

SPEAKER_05 33:04

I was out there the first time for three months.

SPEAKER_01 33:06

Three months, I mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 33:08

But yeah, I mean, that was one of my worries about going out there was the whole time I was at Avera in Sioux Falls, it I mean, I constantly had visitors, right? And that was the one of the biggest parts of my rehab or my the rehabilitation mental uh side of staying positive to the whole thing is uh other people kind of worried about worrying about it for uh for me. Yeah, and so you know, just the positivity that they gave me and all that stuff, I was worried about los losing that. Uh, but then going out to Craig, which is in Denver, you know, I was pretty much never alone out there either. I mean, obviously my dad and my mom and dad were there, uh, but we had visitors, it seemed like almost every week.

SPEAKER_00 33:58

Did you say people worrying about you helped you? Like took it away from you. Did I catch that right?

SPEAKER_05 34:03

Yeah, I would say kind of everyone else praying for me and worrying about it. I mean, just subconsciously, maybe taking that the pressure.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

Isn't that interesting? How long how long until you had your first moments alone?

SPEAKER_05 34:22

I think when I woke up from surgery or maybe that next night.

SPEAKER_03 34:28

I think it was the next night because I remember that was when I finally got some sleep.

unknown 34:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

Um I was sitting in the ER room with or in the ICU room with him, and I could not sleep on the floor, and they didn't have anything else in the ICU room because it was so small. So I I think I told him that I was gonna just go lay down for a little bit, and um I got a call.

SPEAKER_05 34:51

It was at like 4 a.m. Yeah. So I mean, waking up from surgery at like 6 a.m. And then that whole day, obviously talking to people all day in the ICU. And then that night, I think it was, I had fallen asleep and then woken up kind of in the middle of the night, but in the ICU, like you really can't tell the time of day or anything. Obviously, I was in a really confused state to begin with. Um, I woke up like alone and like in a dark room, and I I just remember kind of like freaking out a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 35:30

Yeah. And so I naturally remember him telling me, Where were you? And and don't do that again.

SPEAKER_05 35:40

Yeah. I mean, little, I mean, I had no idea it was like four o'clock in the morning, but yeah, it was super scary like waking up in that room in that room alone and and you couldn't move. No, right, not being able to like call in. Well, you're 17? I was 17, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:56

Yeah, yeah. So that's normal. I could I mean that I could totally see that's a normal reaction. So just for families who would who may have to go through that surgery, what's the I mean, you've got to get sleep, right? Mom's gonna get sleep, dad's gotta get sleep, you need someone, someone there. How do you how do you work that out?

SPEAKER_03 36:15

We basically started taking shifts then like Jeff would stay in there with him for a while. And you know, we had other people in there too, siblings and or his siblings and stuff. So yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:26

And knowing more about hospitals now, like if I had been feeling that way and I didn't have family around, I mean the nurses aren't doing anything at four in the morning either, right? But they're there. And so I could have asked a nurse to, you know, spend time with me or ask them to talk or anything like that. And I'm sure they would love to do that because they're like I said at 4 a.m., they're not doing anything anyways.

SPEAKER_01 36:47

That's great advice. Yeah, because then that's what the nurses are there for. And those are the moments that I have a lot of nurse friends who have said those are golden nugget moments for them personally, when they get to speak into the lives and not just hitting monitors and giving shots and doing what they do to actually speak in the life of those in the hospital or special.

SPEAKER_05 37:06

Yeah, and I always think of, you know, obviously I was blessed with a family that was always there for me in the massive community and following. But a lot of the families that we hope through Game Plan for Hope don't have that. And there's a lot of people who are going through this, maybe not alone, but they're in the hospital alone for a majority of their stay. And yeah, I think back of to my time there, and I can't imagine how difficult it it would be for them in that moment.

SPEAKER_04 37:39

Right.

SPEAKER_05 37:40

I mean, obviously, knowing what I know now, it wouldn't be as bad. But putting myself back in that position is like, that's gotta be so difficult.

SPEAKER_01 37:48

Right. So you go and visit those who are in the hospital now, right, Trenton?

SPEAKER_05 37:55

Yeah, exactly. And so I guess that's a pretty good transition. Yeah, that is.

SPEAKER_01 37:58

I was just thinking that's a good transition for us to talk about Game Plan for Hope.

SPEAKER_05 38:01

So yeah, I mean, now if there's um an injury that is somewhat like a spinal cord injury, uh, I'll go up and talk to them through Game Plan for Hope, you know, kind of just telling them about, you know, my story to begin with. Uh but then I try to like give them advice about things that I would want to know in their when I was back in their position. Or if it's an injury that's really similar to mine, kind of tips and tricks that I've learned over the years to to kind of get through life. Um, but then obviously giving them hope for the future, right? Being six years out now, obviously my life looks way different than it did when I was in their shoes. And so, you know, kind of giving them hope that you know life goes on.

SPEAKER_03 38:55

And I think you always stress how your faith got you through it, which is kind of key. Very key. Especially if, you know, we don't always know if if who we're going to visit is a believer or not. Um, so it's just a nice way to be able to share our faith. So you get how how does Game Plan for Hope work? Well, we usually get referrals from Trenton's Facebook page that still has a lot of followers, or people that have followed his story will reach out to us and say, hey, here's a link to somebody maybe would be good for you to reach out to.

SPEAKER_01 39:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 39:31

So we do um that's a lot of it. We are trying to get plugged into um the hospitals here in town um to get referrals from them, or at least to have them give the patients our contact information because of HIPAA, they can't really tell us people. But if they get referred from somebody else, you know, like a it's usually like a carrying bridge share or something like that. So then what I do is I usually try to um reach out via messenger and just say, hey, you know, here's who I am, and just kind of briefly share a story and just say we're here to help in any way, and we want to walk alongside you in this journey. Um, sometimes we get a response back, sometimes we don't. So that's kind of how it works right now.

SPEAKER_01 40:19

Um It may be obvious to some people why you would start Game Plan for Hope, but can you explain what was your what kick started Game Plan for Hope?

SPEAKER_05 40:29

I think it started honestly in Avara, like when I was first in the hospital, uh through social media. I mean, there were so many people who asked how they could help us. And so obviously there was a lot of monetary donations, yeah, but then there was people who had equipment to share with us. And so, not knowing what I would need down the road, we just started saying yes to everything. And so my dad was driving all over the place getting all of this equipment, and uh that kind of kept continuing while I was at Craig. And so it was months and months of this stuff. Any equipment like wheelchairs, wheelchairs, like right, like bathroom equipment, like tables, uh anything stuff you would never realize that you were gonna need in life, right?

SPEAKER_01 41:25

Ever, right? And so, and you can't plan for stuff like that. So people who've been there done that are like, here, you're gonna need this.

SPEAKER_03 41:32

And you're like, really? I do remember at the time going, you know, being kind of in that denial phase, going, well, we're not gonna need that because he's gonna get better.

SPEAKER_05 41:41

I mean, I do remember that phase a little bit, but and then I ended up not needing 95% of it, right? Uh not because you know, I ended up walking, but just because it a lot of it is very specific to, you know, an injury or a use case. And so I ended up just not needing a lot of it. And so then we were kind of in the mentality of like, what do we do with this? And so it just kind of led to a pay it forward thing. And so that's what I think kind of sparked the whole game plan for hope thing was there's a huge need for this. Like I said, a lot of the families that we see, even like when I was in Craig, don't have that support system, right?

SPEAKER_04 42:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 42:26

And so they come from either a big city where community they don't get a lot of support from the community. And so they might not have a lot of money to buy all this stuff, whatever it may be, you know, people just and insurance is all different too.

SPEAKER_03 42:41

But some insurances pay for a lot more than other insurances, so it kind of all depends on that, too. But I also remember the equipment part of it. But then when we were at Craig Hospital, I remember getting a call from a friend saying, hey, there was a 14-year-old boy that just got in a car accident and he's paralyzed, and they're trying to, you know, figure out what to do. And would you talk to this mom? And we're like a month into this. And so I remember already just reaching out to this mom who was back at Ivera, going right where we were a month before.

SPEAKER_01 43:17

Oh man.

SPEAKER_03 43:18

Going, what do we do? Where do we go? And I she doesn't remember this conversation, you know, just because you're in such a blur and I don't remember conversations either right away. But yeah, they ended up coming out there. And the funny thing about that story is um all the football teams in the area had, you know, signed signs and sent them to Trenton. Well, this young boy and his brother had signed uh uh their football team had signed um and their names were right in the middle, and then a month later he was out at Craig. But anyway, the the supports, the support side of things started out at Craig too already. So it just kind of

SPEAKER_05 44:00

Just seeing a need for all of this stuff that was happening to us. And then just the, like I said, realization that there was a need for something like this. Because you go through this whole scene in the hospital and like this tragedy, and you just have there's no, there's no one to point you in the right direction. Right. Through all of insurance to equipment and all that stuff. Emotion. Emotional.

SPEAKER_03 44:29

Yeah, the emotional side of things. And just yeah, just to tell them that it'll be okay. And just to take things one day at a time and not to look too far in the future. Because if you start looking, and you say that's a lot, Trenton, you start looking too far in the future, and you can easily just start panicking. Yeah. You know, what's my future going to look like? Am I going to be able to do this or that? Or, you know, from a parent side of things, it's like, what does this look like? You know, like as a mom, is he going to be able to, you know, go to college? Is he going to be able to do this? And you know, worry is, you know, worry and fear are the roots. It can take over really fast. So you really have to fight that.

SPEAKER_00 45:12

So game plan for the number four hope.org is the website, and you're in southwest Minnesota. What kind of coverage do you have? Are you in the all continental states or yeah, we really don't have any, you know, strict guidelines.

SPEAKER_03 45:27

I mean, we still have a lot of connections out at Craig Hospital. So I'll, you know, we'll get reached out to once in a while. But I would say for the majority, it's probably the four, four states, you know, right around us.

SPEAKER_05 45:38

But I think I saw a stat that you guys have helped families in what, seven or nine states or something like that?

SPEAKER_04 45:45

Nine states, I think.

SPEAKER_05 45:46

I mean, for a majority of it, it's kind of within probably 200 miles. Yeah. But it does venture out.

SPEAKER_00 45:55

Yeah, sure. And how do you know any stats on how often this type of an injury occurs?

SPEAKER_03 46:01

You know, I don't know stats anymore.

SPEAKER_05 46:04

I just looked and uh last year, so 2022, I think they helped over 60 families in like over 50 communities.

SPEAKER_03 46:18

So are you talking about just the percentage of this happening to a person?

SPEAKER_00 46:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:23

Oh, just the stats injury of somebody getting paralyzed.

SPEAKER_00 46:27

Oh, I have no idea. Is it one a day? I mean, is it just like the car accident, football, could be other things, could be diving into a shallow pool.

SPEAKER_03 46:34

Right.

SPEAKER_00 46:34

Um I'm getting the sense that it happens more often than we than we hear about.

SPEAKER_03 46:38

It's kind of like when you buy a car that you think is unique and then all of a sudden you start seeing it all over everywhere. It's how that's how it is. I feel like you just start hearing about it more and more.

SPEAKER_05 46:50

Yeah. And it's obviously a community that you've never noticed before, never tapped into. And so, you know, you're not in the hospital scene. And so it's just not something you notice. Uh, but being part of it, yeah, it's definitely more common than you think.

SPEAKER_01 47:07

Wow. Uh our conversations when when you're like, this just happened, and I just got to call for this and then this and a diving accident out in Bogie, or, you know, a lot of people will live in fear of that happening to their children. When they hear of stuff like this, they'll be like, Oh, please not my child, you know, or it's like you can spiral yourself into a frenzy as a mom or a dad with the worry. So, what advice would you give those parents?

SPEAKER_03 47:39

Surrender. Yep. I mean, one word, I mean, and I just remember when he went off to college, it was probably exciting for him, but I was freaked out because I had been caring for him since he got home from the hospital. And, you know, a mom knows best, right? You know, like I knew how to take care of him. Is anybody else gonna know how to take care of him? And just, you know, college is new and probably not scary, I shouldn't say, for a especially for a boy. I mean, they're excited to go, but I just worried about him and I found out really quickly that worry could be a downward spiral spiral. So I had to just get on my knees and surrender daily, just for God to take away the fear and the worry because and he did. I mean, when Trenton would be home, I'd, you know, take over the role of caregiver. But when he was gone, I was able to just let go and trust that the people that we had lined up to take care of him.

SPEAKER_01 48:42

Had it. Trent, what's it like for you? I when I I see you at the football games. When you're watching a football game, is that easy, hard? Do you have moments? What is that like?

SPEAKER_05 48:56

I have absolutely no issue watching football again.

SPEAKER_01 48:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 49:00

And it's been like that since day one. Um I have never blamed football for this. You know, it's to me, it's not, you know, a football accident, right? Um I guess I've said this a lot before, but I've accepted with my faith and hope that, you know, that this is God's plan for me. And if I could go back in time and, you know, maybe not go out for football. Or if a parents ask me, like, is football safe? You know, should I have my kid play football? Absolutely. You know, this isn't this isn't a football thing. If I could go back in time and not play football, I think I would be in the same situation. Maybe it would happen in a car accident, or if I was diving in a pool. I couldn't tell you how it was going to happen to me. Uh, but I think God had a plan for me, and you're not gonna get away from that. And so it's better to just accept that plan. And that's been, you know, a long journey too of accepting that plan and carrying it out.

SPEAKER_03 50:07

Yeah. Wow. That's he talks more mature than most adults.

unknown 50:12

He does.

SPEAKER_03 50:13

But I think that's just, you know, God's that's God's peace, or, you know, just his hands over Trenton and the whole journey is if he's got a plan for Trenton, then he's going to be able to get him through this with peace and acceptance. And, you know, he's gonna use him. I mean, obviously Trenton has a choice, but he's gonna use him as a tool to help others who don't maybe have that hope. Um, so it's just been just such a blessing to see, because I know that if Trenton wouldn't be handling it as well as he is, that us as parents would probably not be either. Yeah. You know, it's a lot easier when your child is, you know, as strong in their faith as he is. Because we do work with a lot of parents whose children are struggling. And it's really hard. But I just keep telling them you just need to keep praying and you know, doing what you can to, you know, have hope and take it one day at a time because it's a battle.

SPEAKER_01 51:15

Wow, you two are so inspiring. You really are. Your whole family and everybody just it's been it's been really a beautiful thing to watch and to hear the things that you say, Trenton, is very powerful for for anyone who's ever going through anything, not even just a tragic accident. Like it going through anything, your faith, you just said, This is God's plan. I can't run from God's plan. And I am where I am because this is what he's called for me.

SPEAKER_05 51:41

And right, and that doesn't mean it's gonna be easy either, right? It's still a daily choice for me to choose to live out his plan, obviously. Uh I wouldn't choose this plan, obviously. And I think a lot of people think that just because it's his plan for you, like you have to willingly be happy about that every day. And that's absolutely not true. Like it's a struggle every day. Uh, but choosing to be happy and uh choosing to have a positive outlook is probably the biggest thing you can do. Um but yeah, like I said, it is it is difficult. I mean, are there times that I would rather not be up in front of a crowd giving a talk about my my life? Absolutely, yeah. I'm not a I'm not a talkative person. I've always hated giving speeches. Uh but that's just that's just how it works.

SPEAKER_01 52:40

Spread hope.

SPEAKER_03 52:41

I think it's just being obedient to what we know is his plan for us, and that's not always easy. Getting uncomfortable and like this isn't easy for me either. My heart's beating. You're speaking my language. Oh, yeah. But you know, I think just knowing that you need to get outside of your comfort zone and be obedient is a step of faith to be able to do that.

SPEAKER_05 53:05

I would say the uh the thing kind of going off of what I was saying is even for me now, like it's so easy to look back to that accident and just think about, you know, where would I be now if that never happened? You know, how much better would my life be if that never happened to me? And I think everyone does that, right? We have those those moments in our life, like, gosh, how can that be a God thing? Like it was so terrible, like such a tragic thing happens in our lives, like we lose loved ones, and you just we're so blinded by a reality that isn't real, right? We think back into these lives that aren't real, right? They're a lie. I mean, we're comparing a reality to um something that isn't God's plan for us, right? We have all these all of these forks in in the road of our lives and all these decisions we make that we kind of think are the wrong decisions or these bad things that happen to us. But the ultimate plan is just a perfect accumulation of all of those decisions that we make in life and all of those trials in our lives that God puts in our life, right? And it's not those aren't easy things that happen to us, but it's all for a purpose and a plan. And so it's accepting that plan and acting on it. Um, and that's kind of still where I struggle every day. Like I said, it's not, it's not fun for me to get up and give talks. And I would never be doing a podcast if this uh if this didn't happen to me. And so it is still a daily choice to follow his plan to follow his plan. Um not always easy, not always the thing I want to do. Uh but I feel him calling me to do this, and so it's an active choice to to make that choice, to make that screen. Good for you.

SPEAKER_00 55:11

Don't fight it. I mean, the the the feeling of being used by the creator of the universe. I know that I'm amazing as that.

SPEAKER_03 55:22

I've um just knowing him and then some others who have gone who are in Trent's situation who have gone on to be motivational speakers and so forth. I don't know if I've actually heard you say this, but I think you have basically, I mean, so many words that kind of feel blessed that this has happened to you because you don't know where you would be if it didn't. Like you know that you're being used by God because you're in this situation. Whereas if he wasn't in this situation, he might be partying like a rock star and not using his life for good, you know. Um so I don't know. I've just heard a lot of people, you know, say that, and I think that's just blessing in disguise.

SPEAKER_05 56:09

Yeah, you never know what he's saving you from or someone else from, right? So while this might seem bad, whatever he saved me from was obviously worse. Um, but then going along kind of what you were saying about almost seeing this as a blessing, that obviously just comes with religious and emotional maturity, right? Um, seeing past your life on earth and seeing his greater plan into heaven, right? That's I mean, that's where my hope comes from. Everyone asks me, you know, do you think you're gonna walk again? Uh well, I know I'm gonna walk again, whether that's on the earth or in heaven. And so looking past, you know, life on earth and kind of just serving whatever plan that he has for me. And that that didn't come to me right away. You know, that's that's been within the last, you know, kind of year and a half post-graduation of college and becoming a little more mature.

SPEAKER_03 57:15

Yeah, I can honestly say I've seen him mature so much of in his faith. And I mean, that goes for me as a parent too and an adult. I mean, I he's he's way more mature in his faith than I was at that age. And sometimes I even think now, like I'm learning from my child um how much you need to learn lean on the Lord. Um, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:38

Our time here on Earth, I love how you just put that into perspective because our time here on Earth is so so minute. You know, we talk about and how eternity is gonna be so beautiful. And I'm real pumped to see that adorable swagger back up in heaven, Trenton. Because I remember saying that to you.

SPEAKER_03 57:56

We did have the little bass swagger. Oh man. Yeah, the same one as brothers.

SPEAKER_01 58:00

Yep, yep. It's pretty dang. It's cute. Well, this has been this has been great. Thank you for sharing all the information that you did with our audience. I know that there's gonna be a lot of people who are gonna do things differently now. And that's what we're here to do with fortitude is to truly serve the audience and everyone who's listening to give information that they may not otherwise ever hear. So um, what's one last piece of advice? I know you said prayer, community.

SPEAKER_03 58:28

Yeah, just um like I said, don't hesitate to reach out to people, even if I mean, just follow that nudge. I mean, people and what they say and do can make such a huge difference. I mean, one thing I didn't mention, but um, we had a bunch of families who went together and so that Jeff and I could both be out at Craig for three months, they paid for all of our bills while we were gone. I mean, wow. That's a that was an accumulation of a lot of families that did that. But I mean, it's like it doesn't have to always be a financial burden, it can be like a text or so just always follow the nudge. Don't let the hesitation is from Satan, the nudge is from God.

SPEAKER_01 59:13

So and if you pray about it, I've always said if if I know there's something there, right? I'm supposed to do something, but I don't know what. When you pray about it, the Holy Spirit will give it to you.

SPEAKER_03 59:23

Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 59:24

That's wonderful. Thank you. Thank you guys for being here today.

SPEAKER_02 59:28

Yeah, thank you. Thanks guys. Absolutely.