Recovery Road for Austin, Branden, Spencer & Ryan

It started with four friends, a mini bus, and plan to hunt elk for the first time in Idaho. However, the trip of a lifetime was cut short when an elk found them first in Montana. 

Austin, Branden, Spencer, and Ryan were driving to Idaho for a hunting trip in the early hours of October 10th when an elk came into the road. Their mini bus camper hit the elk, lost control, and went off an embankment.  

All seriously injured they were rushed to a nearby hospital in Miles City, MT and 
then promptly transferred to Billings, MT when it was clear their injuries were too severe to be treated in Miles City.

From Billings, MT it was assessed that Branden and Spencer would need to be transferred again in order to get the treatment they needed. They were then transported to Salt Lake City, UT.

Below is where each of our friends are at in their recovery. We will continue to update the below with more details on their progress. So please check back! 

Austin:
Being treated at Billings Clinic Hospital, Billings, MT. 
He has broken vertebrae in his lower back, a broken pelvis, and broken sternum. He has had one surgery already for his back on  Saturday, 10/10. He is scheduled for another surgery Monday, 10/12 for his pelvis.  After his second surgery there will be more details on recovery and rehab.

Ryan:
Being treated at St. Vincent Hospital, Billings, MT. 
He has sustained neck, upper back, and leg injuries. He has broken vertebrae in his upper neck and back, as well as a broken tibia. He will need surgery for his leg scheduled for Monday 10/12. More details on his stay and recovery will come after his surgery.

Branden:
Being treated at University of Utah Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT.
He has sustained head and lower back injuries. He has broken vertebrae in his lower back, a broken orbital, sternum, and toe. He had surgery for his back on Sunday10/11 coming out of surgery they will do more chest x-rays and monitor his head injuries. 

Spencer:
Being treated at University of Utah Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT.
He sustained head, neck, and back injuries.  He has had surgery for the broken vertebrae in his back overnight late Saturday 10/10. They will then check his head and neck injuries and continue to monitor. He also has a broken bone below his eye that will need to be looked at closer to home. 

Please know they are all conscious and communicating at various levels with their loved ones with them at the hospital.  

Knowing the boys all have a long road to recovery we would like to help relieve some of the stress associated with medical expenses thus far. All money raised will be split evenly among the boys. Any amount helps, but understand times are tough right now for a lot of us during the pandemic. 

The pandemic also means it is not possible to gather in-person for fundraisers so we have created a GFM page so it is still possible to support them on their journey to recovering. They are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support they and their families have received this far. They can all feel it even from half way across the country. Please keep the thoughts, prayers, and kind words coming! 

With that said - let's help crush their medical bills like a case of Busche Latte! 


For additional background: Leah Wainwright is a lifelong friend and grew up with all four men. Kayla McLain (formerly Nystrom) is the sister of Ryan and also life long friend to the other three men. A bank account (ABSR Recovery Road Fund) has been set up at Stephenson National Bank and Trust.    Kayla will deposit the donations from GoFundMe directly to the account to disperse between the four men. 

If you would like to donate, but do not feel comfortable doing so online, please contact Leah Wainwright via the contact button below directly for other ways to give. You can also contact Kayla or any other friends/family for more info as well.

If you choose to write a check and drop it off at any of the Stephenson National Bank and Trust Branches - Please make checks payable to ABSR RECOVERY ROAD FUND.  (Checks may still be written to Kayla or Leah, but will have to be exchanged for cash by them, then deposited directly into the account by them.)