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Category: E’s Story

  • Easton’s Story, A Conversation Between Parents and The EMT That Saved Their 6yr Boys Life.

    E.M.T: Good evening, my names Andrew, the EMT at the racetrack. I sent Tara a message on Instagram and I figure during this crazy time you guys have been emotionally drained. I got a email from Samantha the owner of the track. I wanted to let you I first off want to say I am terribly sorry for what you and your family and your son have endured. I want to also say you and your husband are the bravest parents I know. My heart goes out to your sons speedy recovery. I hope I was able to help your son and I really will be praying for all of you. I can’t imagine how it must be in your shoes. You guys were brave I can’t say that that enough. My wife and I will pray for you so incredibly Much and I definitely will be donating to your sons cause. Please find peace in GOD. I wanted to tell you while I was taking care of your son that I will do everything I could to help your son. I wanted to share with you a prayer I say everyday I go out to that track: “Grant me the ability to give emergency care. With skillful hands, knowledgeable mind, and tender loving care. Help me deal with everything, when lives are on the line. To see the worst, administer aid, and ease a worried mind. So help me as I go today, accept what fate may be. Touch these hands, use this mind, help this E.M.T. Amen”… I live by that.. I have donated what I could to your sons gofundme drive and I really wish you all the best.

    Mom: I can’t thank you enough for your help in saving my sons life! You worked so hard to do everything in your power and I truly believe the Lord was working through you!! You are an incredible man and again I’m so so thankful God placed you on the track Saturday! To be honest it’s all a complete blur to me, I feel like I’ve been put in a blender & pulsed on repeat a million times, but I believe the Lord heard your prayers before the track opened and I believe my husbands cries and prayers to the Lord were heard loud in heaven and He sent angel armies to keep our son with us!! No pressure but when we are home with Easton and he is well you are more than welcome to come and visit!!! ♥️ THANK YOU again for being by our side in the absolute most painful experience we have ever been through!!

    E.M.T: I would love to come visit! That little dude is a fighter for sure. It was a crazy day and definitely a blur. It was my first time honestly doing cpr well just 3 compressions when you son came too and a pulse was restored. By far the most rewarding day of my life. Kids like him will make the future so believe me I will be there if he ever needs help. You guys are super blessed. I can assure you everyone that was there aiding in your son were some of the best EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and nurses, and doctors have to offer. Once again, my wife and I are praying every day till he fully recovers. We are expecting in October our first daughter so, let me say this you guys are what true role model parents are. Your sons very lucky to have parents like you in his life and so is god and his angels ever step of the way.

    I can’t imagine how emotional it is for you guys. So I can do my best to offer whatever help I can give you guys at my disposal 

    Mom: WOW!! I don’t even have words, just when I think I couldn’t get any closer to Gods goodness and mercy He blesses my family even more!! You are such an answer to prayers!! I look forward to having you and your wife over, congratulations I know your going to make great role models too and I can’t wait to see how the Lord blesses our families. You are definitely family in our eyes, thank you again for everything. Easton is a little sore right now so I’m going to jump off my phone but I’ll update you here in a little bit with all that has been going on we’re expected to go home tomorrow. 🙏🏻🙌🏻

    Dad: Thank you so much you are amazing EMT I don’t know if he would’ve made it without you before you got there he was lifeless in my arms I don’t know if he was dead or not but in my mind he was dead and God saved him and brought him back to life and he help use you to do that.  I’m his father by the way 

    E.M.T: Great news! And thanks once again for the kind words. Both of you I hope can get some rest. That moment I consider you guys family too. It was the craziest moment in my life honestly I have only been a EMT since April but I was in the army national guard for 8 years and a infantrymen and I definitely have to say 8 years and my EMT schooling and constant practicing prepared me for that exact moment. 

    He very well could have been, but god has a purpose for everything. I believe you sons purpose as well as everyone working on your son was to not let that happen. More like a testament in time and a true test of hope. You guys being there the whole time with me and holding him every chance you had I believe that played a huge part too in his speedy recovery. He’s doing so well. He’s brave as well and like I said he gets if from both of you for sure. Have a blessed day, both of you should take some time to rest. I understand it’s stressful. Smile, gods watching and walking among us.e for that exact moment. 

    Dad: Thank you so much we look forward to meeting you soon again 🙏🙏🙏

    E.M.T: Yes definitely on better terms, on how we should have originally met 😊 

    Mom: Here’s just a very short & quick update, I sent a friend regarding Easton- Thank you so much for your prayers. The MRI came back clear there is no ligament or bone damage to the neck and his c collar was removed, but there is some muscle soreness and swelling, but considering the accident it is absolutely amazing how well Easton is. There was no damage to the skull or brain and no internal bleeding or damage to his organs. He had surgery yesterday which included wiring screwing and adding plates to his jaw which was broken in two places. His chin was just floating! Three broken ribs are really sore and there’s bruising to his lung. We have so much to be thankful for and also a very long road to recovery. He is currently very irritable and frustrated. We are hoping to go home tomorrow where we can make him feel at home as he endures this painful season. 🙏🏻🙌🏻

    E.M.T: He will be in good spirits in no time! That’s fantastic news!

  • Easton’s Story, Part IV

    We landed and I followed the tactical team and nurses from the air pad into the hospital, while texting Chad we made it safely! Nurses and doctors rushed and flooded the room to where Easton’s body laid on a gurney. I waited just outside the room as the tactical team, doctors and nurses all shared details about Easton and his accident. I was called in and asked even more questions regarding his medical history and accident. Easton was having a very hard time staying awake and for hours I repeated his name every couple minutes. Easton had a couple very scary episodes of vomiting large amounts of blood, that had me running out of the room yelling for nurses. Fast forward through all tests, images and talking to doctors & nurses, we were transferred to an admitting room and later learned that Easton had suffered a double mandibular fracture- his jaw was completely broken in two places, which meant his jaw was just floating. He had 3 fractured ribs, a bruised lung and pain in his neck-which meant he had a C-collar on until doctors could confirm there was no serious damage to his neck. 

    That following Tuesday, four days after his accident, E went into surgery to add hardware- plates, screws and wires to his jaw. Eight weeks later we would have another surgery to remove all of the hardware, so that his young bones could expand and grow with him. Those five days in the hospital where some of the hardest as we grieved the sense of control we had previously enjoyed, thinking we could protect our child from any kind of accident, especially one that could’ve taken his life. The overwhelming grief and fear as we came so close to loosing little Easton, but also the overwhelming gratitude/thankfulness for still having our son with us. Between the overwhelming emotions, tests, and conversations with doctors, those 5 days where some of the longest days of my life. 

    The last eight weeks also had its own set of good and bad days. Learning to find foods that E would eat on his soft food diet. Protecting his face, although that wasn’t easy- goofing off, siblings, and playing with friends, resulted in lots of tears after his face was touched or hit. It was especially hard not being able to see him enjoy all the sports and activities he did before. There was no bike riding or scootering, because wearing a helmet was painful and we also didn’t want him failing or damaging his jaw, while it was in the healing process. Even playing basket ball ended in tears when the ball would hit him in the face. There were also days that we just grieved as a family. Days that were slow and unlike what we were use to. Saturday’s where especially hard for me, as I checked out our local tracks on Instagram. E loves to ride and watching him walk into the garage, just to spend a few minutes with his bike before coming in and plopping down on the couch in disappointment, because he couldn’t ride, hurt my mama heart. 

    This season has taught us a lot! We’ve become so much closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as we leaned on Him and completely surrendered our will to His, in a whole new way. We have watched Him not only answer our prayers with the most wonderful miracle, but we discovered the power of community in a way we never had before. I’ve always enjoyed serving others, but hadn’t learned how to lean on others & let them serve me. Chad and I found ourselves in a place where had no choice but to lean on others. Family and friends took care of Laila & Aspen, while we stayed by Easton’s side. My Simple Living Community took care of our animals and garden. Complete strangers/Brothers and sisters in Christ donated to our GoFund me and helped Chad take time off of work to be with us. 

    Words will never be able to fully express the overwhelming thankfulness our family feels for each of you, who have helped us walk through this difficult season! Thank you so much for your prayers and continued support! We love you dearly! xo

    Easton’s Story, A Conversation Between Parents and The EMT That Saved Their 6yr Boys Life.
  • Easton’s Story, Part III

    Easton’s Story, Part III

    By this point Easton was breathing and obviously in a lot of pain. A big concern of mine during all of this was the struggles we’ve faced in the past with Easton’s breathing and waking up, he has had a history of abstractive sleep apnea. He had since overcome all of those past struggles, but when your son isn’t breathing, those fears and past struggles are very scary! I repeated them over and over again to each person who talked to me about his medical history, in that moment. This isn’t the first time Easton has scared us, he had a history that was very important for everyone working with us to know, as they helped save our son’s life. Keeping him awake as best we could was definitely a top priority. 

    I remember the EMT calling for a helicopter with his radio and the person on the other side asking him to repeat what he had said. I don’t know if it’s standard protocol to have it repeated when asking for an emergency airlift, if they were shocked he was alive or if they really didn’t hear him, but I remember clearly the EMT having this conversation. He repeated and added that Easton had suffered serious facial trauma. Chad and I were told only one of us could go with E to the hospital and the other had to drive. I looked at Chad and said “Please let me go I can’t drive.” Of course Chad understood and so he would drive with Laila & Aspen in our SUV. They loaded Easton & I into the medic van for IV’s and vitals, and Chad had to say goodbye to us. He handed me his phone because mine was still on the fold up chair where I was sitting. I knew the fear that rose in me, as I ran to Chad and Easton, not knowing what had happened, but I couldn’t possibly imagine the pain Chad felt walking away from us, especially after holding Easton’s lifeless body for so long! Seconds feel like hours and the world stops as you come face to face with death.

    After the medics placed a few IV’s, checked vitals and ask lots of questions, E was transferred immediately into the sheriff’s helicopter. I was stopped a few times by sheriff’s and medics. One sheriff gave me the name and number to the family that had been by our side as we worked on Easton’s body on the track floor. It was the family of the young boy who accidentally crashed into E. I held onto that tiny piece of paper so tightly! I wanted them to know E was going to be ok, I wanted them to see him again on better terms. I wanted to hug that scared young boy, who went out on the track for a good time, just as my boy did, and I wanted him to know it was a complete accident, and he would be ok! 

    One of the tactical team medics walked me to the helicopter and I felt my legs go numb. He showed me how to get in and where to sit, at this point I’m bawling! As he buckled and reassured me, I shook my head, “no, you don’t understand, I just lost my step brother in a military training accident! In a helicopter!” Tears where flowing from my face, I remember his kindness and apology for my loss, but fear and an overwhelming sense of pain, flooded my body! Before this point I was holding myself together as best I could, I had to! Holding E’s body & yelling his name, answering questions, trying to figure out what the heck was going on, what did we need to do to keep him here with us on earth, where we’re his injuries & how bad were they.. But it was the helicopter that broke me! The pain of seeing people I love grieving the loss of my step brother Stg. Tyler Shelton and hurting myself the last year for all the time we missed out on together, it was as fresh and raw of a wound, as if it happened yesterday. And here I am staring at my son being worked on in a helicopter. This hurts more than I can explain and tears are flooding my face. I can’t even begin to tell you the heartache I experienced in that moment. 

    I remember thinking, or maybe it’s just engraved in us from a young age. but I knew I needed to call my mom. I started saying her number in my head, getting the numbers all mixed up, I typed T for Tami hoping her name would pop up in Chad’s phone. (Did he have her saved as Tami or Mother in law, I don’t know) I text her letting her know Easton was being airlifted. Of course she called, but I couldn’t hear anything and so I’d say something about E being ok and me not being able to hear. Chad, his brother Chance- who was with us at the track, and my sister all called while we were in the air. I repeated the same words to each of them, “E’s ok, but I can’t hear you, he’s going to be ok! I love you.” Scare out of my mind, hurting more than I ever thought was possible, and praying through broken sentences as fear overwhelmed me- I looked out the window and told myself, he would be ok and would want to see a photo of the helicopter ride, we’d later tell him about. I busted up enough courage to snap a photo and then sat there shaking, holding Chads phone.

    Easton’s Story, Part IV

  • Easton’s Story, Part II

    I waited for riders as they crossed the track and ran at the speed of a nightmare! You know the one you can’t scream loud enough or run fast enough in? Each step sinking deeper and deeper into the soft sandy track, my heart sinking deeper and deeper, as I realized Easton was really hurt. I had heard Chad yelling “GOD PLEASE DON’T TAKE MY SON!” as I tripped and made my way to the ground where Chad was holding E. I can’t tell you fully what I felt in that moment, because I still don’t fully understand it, but I grabbed Chad and our baby boy and prayed my heart out! In that moment the EMT arrived and our worst nightmare was confirmed, he had no pulse, he wasn’t breathing and our son was lifeless. 

    There was a steep jump, followed by another jump. Easton had just fallen over after making it up the first jump, nothing serious, but when he stood up (facing incoming traffic), another rider was coming up over the jump and wasn’t able to see Easton! Please know as I am typing this out, tears are flowing down my face at a speed I can’t keep up with and it’s hard to see the letters that I am typing. This was a complete accident and as much as my heart hurts for my little boy, my heart broke in such a deep way for the young rider who had to pick up my baby, begging and screaming for him to wake up, after accidentally crashing into him. 

    Our best guess, is that Easton looked back to see if Chad and I saw him make it up the big hill, which caused him to fall over. He could have been in the process of getting up after falling over or as E started to pick up his bike, the accident happened. 

    The other rider’s tire upper-cut Easton’s jaw, sending him backwards, and then the bike had landed on his head & shoulders. When Chad got to him, seeing the blood pouring from his mouth, looking into his closed and unresponsive eyes, he took his helmet off and with the greatest heartache a parent could ever endure, he prayed for his son’s life. The EMT asked me to help slide Easton’s head & body up, as he had been laying down hill. I’m not entirely sure the chronological order of these events, but here is what I do know/remember. E’s jersey’s were cut off of him and we were able to get a C-collar around his neck. I had kept calling Easton’s name over and over again, yelling “EASTON RYAN!” The EMT had done 3 chest compressions & pumped air into his lungs, and later told me how he watched my son reach for me & start moaning when I called Ryan out to him! Ryan is Easton’s middle name, he got it from his uncle- Chad’s brother, and it’s typically the only way I can get him to listen to me.

    At one point, I remember looking up and locking eyes with a hysterical young boy, filled with fear and crying so hard you could just feel his pain. I repeated “it’s ok,” “it’s going to be ok,” wishing I could comfort him. Seconds later, I noticed another man bent over E’s body with us and the fear on is face. I had also told him it was going to be ok, and asked “do you have your phone?” He said no, and I reassured him we would keep him updated on how Easton was. I didn’t fully understand who was surrounding us, but I saw the fear and absolute compassion of complete strangers, scared for our boy! 

    It’s not only painful to experience an accident yourself or with your own family, but watching helplessly, as another person or family experiences great pain is absolutely heartbreaking! Through this accident, we watched as God brought loving strangers into our lives who jumped in the pain with us, and held us up through prayer. This family stayed by our side as we worked on Easton’s little body and fought to bring him back to us. While moto families on the sidelines helped pack up our gear and bikes. I’m confident that mothers, fathers and families prayed for us and our son, as they watched EMT’s, paramedics, the fire department, sheriff’s and a helicopter land to help us. Community is a beautiful thing and I am so thankful for everyone who was there to help us! 

    Easton’s Story, Part III
  • Easton’s Story, Part I

    Easton’s Story, Part I

    On June 26th, 2021 our family woke up excited and eager for the day ahead, having no idea it would be one of the hardest days we’ve ever faced! You see Saturday’s recently became, family track day. 

    I’ve been thinking a lot about how I could possibly put into words all that our family endured, and whether or not I could write it out.. I mean, I’ve shared E’s story a million times with friends and family, but typing it out feels so much harder! In fact, I’ve been avoiding it! I’m so incredibly thankful for all of the prayers and support you’ve sent our way & I know so many are curious as to what happened that Saturday! I’ve also had other moto moms reach out asking if I could share E’s story with them, so that they could keep their children safe as they ride. But before I share E’s story, I want you to know that this is a story of God’s working hand, a MIRACLE! Easton’s accident, was just that, an accident. Yes he had on all his protective gear & was in a controlled and safe environment. No, I do not believe the desert is a safer place to ride, but we’ll get into that another time, for now I am sharing what happen that Saturday morning, that shook our families world. 

    For the moto moms asking, how they can learn from this accident and keep their children safe.. Please always make your child, husband, friend, or who ever you are with, WEAR A HELMET! I understand gear can be very expensive, but your child’s life is worth so much more! Please also consider buying jerseys or having your child wear pants and a long sleeve. Chest protector, jersey’s, boots, gloves, and goggles are all- also essential to our children’s riding gear! And the most important of all, having a personal relationship with Jesus! Whether you’re riding a bike, skateboarding over a concrete pool, busting teeth at a hockey game or tackling another team at football practice, accidents happen that are out of our control, but nothing is outside of the Lord’s hand’s. I hope & pray as I share Easton’s story, if you don’t already know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you would feel Him knocking on the door of your heart and invite Him. 

    Saturday..

    Easton had just jumped onto the big track. (NOTE: A flagger walks out onto the track to let all the riders know that younger riders will be joining the track, too slow down and be very cautious. Most adult riders leave the track for a quick break.) Easton had just switched off with his sister Laila, this day they were sharing a bike, and this was his favorite part of the day! So I did what any mom would do, I recorded a short clip of him entering the track. I waited for him to come around the track for his second lap so I could hopefully get a couple good shots of him jumping. Side note: When I setup Easton’s nursery, I painted stripes on his wall and added letters that said, “Snips n snails & motocross trails,” hung a professional photo of Chad when he raced & made Easton a motocross themed blanket for his crib. I looked forward to the day that I would get to add photos to his room of him riding, right next to his daddy’s racing photo.

    As E came around for his second lap, I took as many photos as I could until he was out of sight on my camera. Within seconds I put my phone down on the fold up chair that I had been sitting on and then sat down. When I looked up to where Chad was standing, I saw him run without hesitation! Looking up at the flaggers, there had definitely been a crash. Without thinking I got up and ran, leaving Laila and Aspen behind with my sister-in-law. She had been watching her son and thought I was running to help him and said something like “he’s ok.” It was so clear to me though, in that moment, all I knew was I needed to run! I knew something was very wrong, but I had no idea we were talking about different incidents at that point, and I also had no idea I was running to E!

    Easton’s Story, Part II