Our First Hospital Stay as Husband and Wife

September 7th is a day Cody and I will never forget. It marked our first hospital stay as a married couple—something we never anticipated so soon after saying “I do.”

To recap…Cody was racing his dirt bike that day, but this time, something went horribly wrong. To this day, none of us know exactly what happened. Cody has no memory of the accident, and despite the usual crowd of spectators recording and taking pictures, no one captured a single moment of his crash. It feels almost eerie, like the story of what happened vanished into thin air.

At the time, we were in Deadwood with his son, and ended up in the Deadwood ER, where the doctors confirmed Cody’s foot was in terrible shape. Surgery was urgent, they said, and they arranged for him to be transported to Rapid City by ambulance.

As Cody left in the ambulance, I stayed behind to gather our things from the Airbnb and the racetrack. I had been holding it together until I saw the ambulance heading one way while I drove the other. That moment broke me. My heart sank with worry. I kept thinking, We just got married. How is this happening already?

Thankfully, our incredible race family and some of our relatives stepped in to help. They took my stepson so I could focus on getting to the hospital. One worry down, one more to go.

When I finally made it to Rapid City that night, it was late and dark. I fully expected Cody to already be in surgery, but instead, I received a text: surgery was postponed. The swelling in his foot was too severe, and they needed to wait until it subsided. I was relieved to see Cody and hear this update firsthand, but frustration crept in as we realized we’d be staying in Rapid City rather than being transferred to Sioux Falls, where we felt more comfortable with the medical team and aftercare options.

That night, Cody was in pain. The doctors did their best to manage it, but I could see how much he was struggling. All I could do was sit by his side, offer prayers, and wait.

The next day, before surgery, we spoke with doctors and nurses, each of them preparing us for the worst. They warned us that his foot did not look good that they wouldn’t know the full extent of the damage until they opened it up. We prayed together, asking God for healing and strength.

The surgery felt like an eternity. I couldn’t tell you how long it actually lasted—I was too exhausted and emotionally drained to keep track. But the hospital staff was kind enough to keep me updated throughout. When they wheeled Cody back into his room post-recovery, I was overwhelmed with relief. He was groggy and out of it, but he was there, and that was all that mattered.

The doctor explained the results: six external pins now held Cody’s foot together. He admitted the inside of his foot looked like “dog food,” which was gut-wrenching to hear, but we also knew he had done everything possible to stabilize it.

We were ready to leave almost as soon as the surgery was over. Hospitals aren’t exactly restful places, and we knew we still needed to get to Sioux Falls for follow-up care. Unfortunately, we had to stay one more night, and it wasn’t until late the following afternoon that we were finally discharged. After a whirlwind of paperwork and securing Cody’s new knee scooter, we were on the road again—this time to pick up our race gear in Deadwood before heading home.

Who knew that nearly four months later, we would still navigating the aftermath of a crash we can’t explain. The physical and emotional toll has been heavy, but through it all, we’ve leaned on each other and on God. Cody is healing, slowly, but we’re grateful for every step forward.

If this experience has taught me anything, it’s that life throws curveballs when you least expect them. But with faith, love, and support, you can find the strength to get through even the most challenging days.

To anyone out there facing their own unexpected battles—keep going. You are stronger than you think.

With love,

Chelsea