On Sunday, June 18, Hunter Rudolph of Detroit Lakes was returning home after spending Father’s Day with his family. On his way home, he was in a very serious car accident and airlifted to Sanford with very little to no feeling in his legs. He underwent an MRI and CT scan and found his T11 and T12 vertebrae were broken. Hunter had to undergo surgery immediately as his broken vertebrae had hit his spinal cord. After a four-hour surgery they had to remove five vertebrae, T10 through his L2, and inserted rods and screws for support. He will be wheelchair bound as the damage the spinal cord is not repairable and has a one in a million chance of walking again. After being released from the hospital he will require inpatient rehab for about two weeks and from there, outpatient therapy. It is still very early, and the family is learning every day of the challenges that lie ahead.

Hunter is only 18 years of age and will have a very long road to recovery and will need the support of his family and friends. Hunter was working as a farm hand, driving tractor, hauling grain to the elevator, planting fields, and had an appointment June 19 to start the process to obtain his CDL. He is a strong and determined young man but there will be many struggles ahead both for Hunter and his family with this difficult life-altering event.  Hunter’s mom and stepdad (Ashley and Kobryant Groft) are in the process of renovating part of their home into an apartment to accommodate his needs and will take him to PT/OT as necessary.  They too will experience financial changes throughout this process from taking time away from work to travel and support their son.

Lend A Hand Up will boost your online gift 20% to make your generosity go further.  Cash/Check gifts are not boosted, but appreciated, and can be made payable to Kobryant or Ashley Groft and dropped at Midwest Bank | 1583 US 10 | Detroit Lakes, MN 56501.