Eli Brunner and his family are a part of our family in so many ways. Eli is like a second son to me and like a little brother to our son Jason. Jason has been mentoring Eli for the last couple years and helped him develop his motocross skills. We are starting this fundraiser to help with the astronomical expenses that result with this type of injury
Eli has always rode, 4 wheelers n dirt bikes since he could walk, maybe before! Eli is 15 years old. He decided to race his first race of this year at Lincoln Trail Motorsports, Casey, Illinois on March 27th ,22 to try to qualify for Loretta Lynn’s Amatuer National Motocross event. Loretta's Is biggest amatuer motocross event in the USA where only the best amatuers have to qualify to get into the event.
Eli was so excited to start his road to Loretta's after spending the previous 3 months practicing in California. He and his Dad went from track to track sharing God's word thru MX4Christ. He and his Dad had such a special time and his Uncle even met them out there to share in the experience.
Eli and his Dad met us at the track. Both were so excited to be starting his Road to Loretta's. Eli went out for his first moto and on the first lap and was clipped by another rider and went over the handlebars causinhg him to crash.
Eli was seriously injured and with the quick response by Action Sports EMS was Life Flighted to St. John Hospital in Springfield, Illinois where he was diagnosed with a broken C-5 and a fractured C-6 vertabrae and damage to his spinal cord. He underwent immediate surgery and wqas admitted to ICU and placed on a ventilator.
March 28th-
Drs wanting to get another MRI this afternoon to determine whether another surgery is necessary. Right now they are pretty much keeping him sedated. He has feeling in his hands, feet and legs but not much movement. Nurse said he moved his fingers but I have not seen that yet.
March 29th- Eli had a great night 1) he slept well and breathed on his own 2) his fever broke 3) vent is coming out this morning so he can talk and begin to eat / drink.
Update on Eli - going into emergency surgery for mucous buildup in lungs extra special prayers needed.
Surgery went well...next prayers are for him to cough and swallow so the breathing tube can come out.
March 31st-
Eli was in a critical place this morning…”but God…” answered the prayers of many and pulled him out of it. CT scans were all negative, no clots in lungs, abdomen or pelvis, no abdominal bleeding. Blood platelet transfusion was successful, although the level is still low it is double what it was this morning. He started coughing (huge answer to prayer) so he can begin to get the crud out of his lungs. Lungs are still sick with pneumonia, but responding slowly to antibiotics and the breathing / compression treatments. Temperature broke and is back to normal (again) and hoping it stays normal.
April 1st-
In the Dr’s words…”I think we’ve turned the corner…”. In my words, “…yeah, BUT GOD heard and answered our prayers and the masses!” His platelets are holding steady (dr’s don’t know what happened), no blood clots, his lungs are clearing (before pneumonia set in), oxygen is being steadily reduced, cough is getting stronger. He is still fighting an infection/ fever they’re unsure about but so far this has been the “normal” day we have been praying for with no new surprises up to this point. Lungs have improved enough to put a feeding tube in today that they will use to begin to give him nutrition. This should immediately help him have more energy and healing power.
We are thankful that Eli had no brain or other injuries, except for the vertebrae and spinal cord. In fact, in his alert moments, he is…well…Eli, LOL! He has won over the hearts of all of the dr’s and nurses just being his “sweet & social self.” They love taking care of him and can’t help but wonder if he is this enjoyable while he has a breathing tube in, what he will be like when he can really talk. We just say, “you’re just getting to know our Eli and why he is so dearly loved.”
We are still needing many prayers for: fever reduced to normal, infection healed, overall diaphragm function so that he can breathe, swallow, cough, etc on his own enough to “protect” his airway without needing a ventilator or breathing tube, improved overall strength. Our hope and prayer is that this will continue to improve over the weekend so we can get the breathing tube out early next week!!
Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers you’re sending our way and especially for Eli! For now Eli is too weak to use his phone, but if any of you would like to send me a well wish video or message for him I will make sure that he gets to see them. He is positive and in good spirits but could definitely benefit from seeing and hearing from his friends!
We truly do love and appreciate each of you and the encouraging responses and many many prayers being offered on our behalf. We need them and feel God’s peace from them! To Him be the glory as we pray and wait with great expectations for the days to come.
4-2-22
Eli has 2 new tubes in his nose today: one that goes into his stomach and the other straight into his intestines...this is so they can begin to give him some nutrition that should give him more energy to help him recover. He is battling a temperature from the infection in his lungs, that basically turned into pneumonia. He is getting antibiotics to help with the infection...can't be soon enough for us! They are turning down the vent so he can start trending toward breathing on his own, which we hope will also help with the pneumonia. If God wills, we will get this breathing tube out early next week...please God!!!
Please continue to pray specifically for the infection to heal, the lungs are strong and healthy, breathing on his own and the breathing tube can be taken out. These are the short-term goals.
Eli has been such a trooper! He has been so encouraged by your messages and videos...keep them coming 
!
!4-3-22
Eli had a good day! He rested well, which he really really needed after 2 long days and nights. His fever finally broke (after 2 days), he’s getting nutrition through his feeding tube and his pneumonia / lungs are improving. They will begin the process of weening him off of the vent and sedation tomorrow in hopes of getting the breathing tube out by mid week! Please pray that his improvement continues and that all goes according to plan and we can get this tube out and move towards rehab!
It’s hard to believe it has been a week since the accident…the longest and hardest week of our life! So thankful that we do not have to go through this alone! Thank you all for your videos, continual prayers and support for our family. We love and appreciate each of you more than you’ll ever know!
4-5-22
Eli has been steadily improving over the last couple of days. We are adapting to the slow nature of recovery associated with spinal cord injuries, slow and steady. Eli’s lungs are still improving, his fever has gone down significantly and stayed below fever grade for 2 days which indicates that his infection is under control. The goal this week is to reduce his sedation and oxygen dependence on the ventilator. The delicate part is that he is weak from the injury and needs the vent to keep his oxygen levels up while his lungs recover from pneumonia. So, with God’s help, we hope he can be strong enough to breathe on his own with oxygen levels high enough to sustain him while not being on the ventilator, which would finally allow him to get the tube out. This is our main focus and prayer right now for Eli.
We believe God hears our prayers and prayers of others around the world who are praying for our Eli…please keep the prayers coming as we try to get him over this major step in his recovery!
Please also keep my wife, Jamie and her family in your prayers, her dad Jake passed away this morning. Even though it was expected, our hearts broke again upon hearing this news…so please keep her in your prayers as well!
Quick morning update 4-7-22
God answered our prayers. Eli had a successful surgery this morning! We are waiting for him to get back in the ICU. Thank you all for your constant prayers and petitions on our behalf…keep them coming!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below, praise him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost…AMEN!!
4-9
quick little update on eli: today he's had his best numbers on the vent yet! his lungs are healing and hopefully, the rest of his body will begin to as well. still no movement in the legs as of right now, but his motion in his arms and fingers has improved greatly!
Thank you all for the continuous prayers and offers of support, we could never get through one minute of this without all of you. We love you all sooo much and are humbled daily by your love for Eli and our family!
Please everyone please continue to pray for complete healing for Eli.
Please pray for Eli and his family Todd, Jamie, Kiley Brunner. They are all consumed, and focusing there time with Eli’s recovery
