Spencers Story. A Young Man With Drive, Laughter and The Push To Walk Again * * * Im happy to meet you but sorry its under these circumstances. Sometimes, as a reporter, you say these exact words in a serious and sincere voice. I did today. Perhaps youve heard the story of Spencer Carver. Hes 17 and a junior at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School. Right in the apex of adolescence. Ive written here about the fun times of being 17 with wheels. That exact situation, 16 days ago, is why were focusing on Spencer Carver now. On New Years Eve, Spencer and some of his friends were in a truck. It crashed outside of town. The following day, Spencer said he was at a gas station and his legs had no feeling. His father, a paramedic, got him to Mercy Medical Center before Spencer was transferred to UIHC. Now hes at St. Lukes in Cedar Rapids with a very dire prognosis. Two percent chance that he will walk again. Notice its not zero. Spencer has a severe spinal cord injury, at the T-7 vertebrae (thats about halfway down the spinal column). He has use of his arms and his hands -- our handshake was firm evidence of this. Heres why I hope you care. Spencer Carver, in our half our together, was so positive, so polite and so focused on his new long term goal. Walking across the stage at Prairies graduation in 2016. Hes the youngest of three children and his parents, Don and Beth, welcomed us into his hospital room for this story. They tell me the response from Prairie has been truly uplifting. Tonight, Washington and Prairie will meet for varsity basketball. Boys at 6 pm, girls at 7:30. Theyll have a black out, wearing black shirts to honor Spencer, who will be back in his hospital room but dreaming, more than anything else, of being at the gym with his friends. At 10, well show you some of the videos of his rehab as well as of tonights event at Prairie. I also uncovered some video of Spencer, as #71, the right guard for the Hawks football team, from this year. We have a loving Facebook base here in the Posse of 16,622. Here is the contact information for anyone who wants to really assist. Hills Bank & Trust has a fund: Carver Family Benefit Fund. Go Fund Me. (Theyve raised $4,715 out of a goal of $10,000). gofundme/jlfwmg Also, Carver Strong apparel is available at Ironside Apparel. (ironside-apparel). Thank you for your caring -- and for reading. - Chris
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 22:10:09 +0000
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