Thankful!

Hello, everyone!

We hope you all were able to read Bethany's blog post(See Bethany's hope). Bethany really encouraged us to keep this blog going, and we are going to do so!

Our hearts intention for doing this blog is to allow people from all over, to continue to PRAY and receive updates on Nathan's recovery. It is our hope for Nathan to soon be able to read all of the posts, emails, and comments of your encouragement as he recovers! We are SO thankful for the out pour of your emails, phone calls, cards etc. It is so great to feel the love and encouragement from our friends near and far. Nathan is sure loved and it is our intentions for him to know full well, how supported he is! We are blessed to see God bringing people to Him, and lives being saved. Nathan is on his journey to recovery, and for that we are SO thankful!

We will share any new updates, as they come. Nathan is doing really well, and continues to wake from his coma. Although he is able to somewhat communicate, he is still not fully out of the coma. The greatest concern at this point, is for Nathan to be accepted into Craig Hospital! Please pray for all the paperwork (Bethany has been working on the HUGE pile, for a few weeks) to be accepted. Once Nathan is able to be removed from TICU, we are PRAYING he is able to be moved directly to Craig!

We have been able to talk and receive response from Nathan, which is great progress. He wanted to see Shayn (our daughter), which was so cool to hear AND also the fact that he remembered her name. He smiled when I told him that she was 6 months old now, and is sitting up. That is a great sign. We ask him each time we visit if he remembers little things, such as, his dogs or his snowmobile...his response's vary each day. Nathan has a very long road ahead, but we are SO hopeful and are praying for Gods BEST to be revealed, in and through his life.

We are excited to keep this blog up and going! God is doing GREATER things than we EVER imagined! We continue to give him all the glory!

W are thankful.

Love James and Kim

Bethany's Hope John 11:40

Hi Everyone,

Greetings from James and Kim's house to yours. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you so much for you continued care and concern for my son Nathan. Kim and I were hanging out with Shayn and they shared with me their intentions to shut down this blog. I felt compelled to encourage Kim and James to keep the blog alive. When I was completely overwhelmed by this tragic experience James and Kim rose to the occasion and began to set in motion the order that was necessary to reach out and communicate with Nathan's friends - all of you. I appreciate this more than you or they will ever know.

I want Kim and James to continue to share Nathan's story through their own eyes. I know when Nathan gets better he will be able to look at this blog and hear his story through the eyes of two people who have loved him unconditionally. In addition he will be able to see evidence of your care and concern as you interact on the blog with your own comments.

It is my understanding that some individuals are questioning why visitation has been restricted at this point in time. I will give you my explanation but first I will ask that you trust me and the medical team. If you are a parent yourself you will probably be able to understand where I am coming from - perhaps more so than if you have no children of your own. Nathan is an adult but he has no wife at this time in his life - so the role of medical proxy has fallen back on me because I am his biological mother. The Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit staff and I made the decision that it was in Nathan's best interest to limit visitation to immediate family and one or two very close friends.

If and when the decision is made to alter the visitation policy I promise you Kim and james will notify you. There will come a time when Nathan will need all the encouragement and support we can offer him.

For right now - the best way you can minister to Nathan is to pray for Nathan in a mighty way. If I may be so bold as to suggest that you pray that the Holy Spirit will minister to Nathan in his spirit that God loves him more than he can ever imagine. When Nathan was in middle school he prayed the prayer of salvation with a very Godly man named Pastor Dale. Like many of us Nathan has never fully surrendered his life to Christ. It has been my experience that surrendering my own life to Christ has been a process. Please touch and agree with me that this life tragedy will be used of God to draw ALL of us closer to Him with an ever deepening surrender of our lives and our wills to Jesus Christ.

Warmly,

Bethany F. D. Christensen

We serve an INCREDIBLE God!

Good morning, everyone!

No, I have not forgotten to update, Nathan has been in such a deep coma, the past week, there has not been much to update. He did VERY well in his surgery, the trachea is placed and when he wakes up completely out of his coma, he most likely will not be thrilled about that! He has become very responsive, as of last night. When James told him that he and I have been going up to see him everyday, Nathan opened his eyes and started crying. This is a great sign.
Nate is responding, slowly...and that is a miracle. Bethany was told on the night of the accident, to basically say goodbye to her son~ and today, Nate is waking from his coma, and responding in the correct manner. You cannot tell me that is not a miracle. You cannot tell me that God doesn't have a plan for Nathans life! James and I just cry and cry, knowing God has been in total control. It is so amazing to see and experience.
The Sunday morning of Nate's accident, James and I were heading to church. We saw Nate driving his VW bug, and it was FREEZING outside. At the stoplight, I rolled down my window and said "Natey, put your seat belt on and why do you have your windows down. Roll them up and turn your heat on." He laughed and wanted to race us up the on ramp, which...if you any of you know James and Nathan, we did indeed race. Any excuse for those two guys going fast, they take full advantage of it! We miss our friend, BUT we also believe Nathan will return after his rehabilitation time, better than ever!
Nate is SUCH a survivor and his journey so far, has CHANGED Our Lives. Just the fact that Nathan was hit by an SUV, thrown 30-50 feet and is STILL ALIVE~ GOD HAS A PLAN! We serve a MIGHTY GOD! If you don't know this, I pray with my whole heart you will one day come to know Him, intimately!
The doctors and Bethany call James and I, Nate's "chosen brother and sister." I laugh at this because Nathan hasn't ever had a sister, and to have me as his sister, well....maybe he should call my brother, Chad, for a few pointers! ha! We have always treated each other like brother and sister, and I am honored to call him my brother. we promised Nathan we would stand by him as he begins this journey ahead. No matter how hard that is, we will be his biggest fans. We know full well, he would do the same thing for us.
I hope all of you who do not know Nathan, will one day get to hear his story. I cant wait until he is awake enough to hear that hundreds and thousands of people across the Nation are praying for him! What an AMAZING thought. God is doing miracles in his life, and to be apart of HIS work...WOW!

As Nathan continues to wake from his coma, I will update you more frequently. Still no visitors, because of his bacterial infection. Once he is moved to the rehabilitation center in a few months, will be a good time to see him.
He is breaking odds and proving doctors wrong, everyday with his great improvement! He is showing fantastic signs of living a normal and FULL life! He is young, and his future is looking bright! God is good, we give HIM all the glory! We love you Nate, and continue to plead for a full recovery!

Psalm 62:8
"o, My people, trust in HIM at all times, pour your heart to Him, for God is our refuge."

Monday, November 9th

It has been a battle the past few days. The doctors tried to take Nathan off of Life-support, but it was too soon. The doctors sedated Nathan, and are doing surgery for a trachea. Each time I go and visit Nathan, he looks better and better. We are praying desperately that his brain injuries are VERY minimal. James and I are blessed to be able to pray over him. It is difficult to drive or walk by his house, without seeing him run over or wave to us. God knows. He is well aware of Nathans future, and for that we are rejoicing! While we wait for Nathan to come out of his sedation and be able to communicate with us, we are trusting in Gods provision over Nathans life! Nate is a fighter, and God is not done with him yet. We are faithfully praying a FULL recovery for Nate, and ask for an INCREDIBLE future for him!

James is getting all of his snowmobiles ready for the season. Nathan was working on his, before the accident. James is going to complete the work and let him know, next year...it will be waiting for him! We truly believe Nathan WILL be riding next year.

Please pray for Nathan, as he is in surgery. This surgery will last about 2 hours and 45 minutes. As he began surgery, he was peaceful and stable. God is in control. we are trusting and resting in His MIGHTY plans for Nathan Dominique Dill Christiansen

Ephesians 1:18 "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people."

Saturday, November 7th

Today was not the best day for Nathan. The doctors initially wanted to ween Nathan off of Life-support, but it is too soon. We are continuing to pray over Nathan and are VERY hopeful for his future. The doctors continue to be optimistic with their predictions of Nathans recovery process. They had to sedate Nate more today, after trying to remove his breathing tubes. The neurosurgeon reiterated to us that Nathans recovery and future, is going to take time. He needs a STRONG support team, and that is where our earnest prayers come in. God says that anytime two or more are gathered, there is He also. I believe that with my soul~James and I felt the presence of God with us when we were praying out loud, with Nathan. I wish I could explain to you all the way God appears when we pray. I am sure many of you know exactly what I am talking about. God is still in the miracle making business, silly as that sounds...Its true. We are experiencing it through our friends precious life.
God is chasing after Nathan, just as He chases each of our lives. HE IS ABLE!

Everyday when I get to go visit Nathan, God speaks to me. In the silence of just sitting, watching my 'brother' breath, God whispers "be still, and know I AM God." Psalm 46:10 Every time we weep after watching him struggle, I am reminded that God is our strength. Nathan is a fighter, and God is in total control. We just need to PRAY and SEEK Gods face, as we wait.

Be still....and KNOW...I AM, GOD! What a promise. What an incredible promise! Please continue to pray for Nathans injuries and future. He is alive, and for that, we are REJOICING! Thank you God. We love our friend, and will fight with him until the end.

Exodus 14:14 (New Living Translation)
The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

This verse stood out to me. JUST STAY CALM! He is fighting this for Nathan. We are to rest, be still, let go, and allow God to be...GOD.

Nate, we love you. you are doing so well. We know your future holds great things, we will be here for you every step of the way.

Friday. November 6th

This morning, I was able to go and sit with Bethany as the Doctors examined Nathan. He is still very sedated, and was resting peacefully. Right now, we really need to pray for the brain injury, to be minimal. They are predicting that there is frontal lobe trauma.

He was able to connect with my voice, and he even responded to more nurses last night. These are all positive signs. We are cautiously optimistic and trying to be positive, not knowing Nathans injuries. They will not be able to know the extent of his injuries/future until Nathan is fully awake, and responding to every effort the Doctors are making with him.

Nathan is a fighter, we are praying over him at every opportunity that is given to us. They have stopped giving him ALL sedation medication, as of today. He will be more responsive within the next week. I will update you more after our evening visit with Nathan.

Please continue to cover Nathan in your prayers, prayer chains and church communities. We rest in the HOPE that only GOD gives. His word is the LAMP as Nathan wakes from this tragic accident!

My encouragement for us all today...This verse has encouraged me, and I DRAW MY STRENGTH AND HOPE KNOWING I SERVE A GOD WHO KNOWS MORE, AND WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERY DETAIL...ALL WE ARE TO DO IS REMAIN FAITHFUL...BE ENCOURAGED, EVERYONE!

Isaiah 55:8&9
"my thoughts are completely different than your thoughts;" says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

An evening with Nate

Good Morning everyone!

James and I were able to go and stay with Nathan, late last night. He had just settled down, from struggling with his nurse. Most likely, Nathan does not know what is going on. You can imagine what he may be going through; waking up having tubes taped to your face, mouth, nose, wrists. He is strapped down (his wrists are tied down to the bed) because when patients wake up, they usually want to rip the tubes out of themselves. He most likely will have no idea where he is or what has happened to him. When we went into the room with Nate, he looked really peaceful. He is still on life support, but they are continually weening him off of it. I will tell you all that the nurse last night was very optimistic about Nathans future. We are unable to know the full extent of Nathans brain injury/damage until he is completely out of his coma. Again, this is a marathon not a sprint. The rehabilitation will be a lengthy journey for Nate, but we are praying that his injuries are minimal. God knows Nathans future, and as James and I were praying over him last night, I felt such peace. I came back and told Bethany last night, that I just feel God is going to do something incredible with Nathans story. James and I hate seeing our friend hurt and struggle, but as we told Nathan, we are not going anywhere. We know this is going to be a very long journey, but we are in it for as long as it takes.
Please pray that Nathan is able to get into Craig Hospital. Craig Hospital is one of the best, if not the best rehabilitation centers for brain and spinal injury patients, in America. James and I spoke to Tiffany (a nurse at Craig) last night, and she was able to give us some really good information. Please pray for God to open an opportunity for Nathan to one day enter Craig hospital. It is not an easy task and we are really praying he will be accepted to ONE DAY, when he is healed enough to enter Craig.

Also, please continue to lift up Bethany. Nathan is her only child, and she has no family here in Colorado. She has a strong group of friends, and support groups. As you can imagine it is very difficult for Bethany to leave Nathan and get good rest at night. Sleep is VERY important right now, she desperately needs to rest.

I will update you all after our visit later today. Trusting and hoping for Gods hand to continue to heal, restore and prepare Nathan for what is to come.


I was reading this verse this morning, and wanted to encourage you all with it. Please pray for Nathan as he wakes (this can take up to another week or so) to understand that he is going to be ok and is in a safe place. He seemed very scared yesterday afternoon, which is totally normal. But, as you can imagine, it is difficult to watch. God is in TOTAL control and we are trusting His perfect plan. He is faithful, and His mercies are new every morning! Thank you, God!

Micah 7:7&8
"As for me, I look to the Lord for His help. I wait CONFIDENTLY for God to save me, and My God WILL certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord Himself will be my light."