As we approach the 18-year mark since Travis’ accident—February 12, 2026—we find ourselves reflecting on just how far we’ve come. This photo holds more meaning than we ever could’ve imagined. It was taken when Travis and Ryan traveled to Colorado, helping Ryan find his first apartment. At the time, it felt like a simple, joyful moment between brothers.

But now… it speaks volumes.

The mountains behind them? We didn’t realize then how symbolic they would be—the mountains we would face, the ones we would climb, and sometimes the ones we’d have to pray our way through.

The mountains of hardship. The mountains of healing.

The mountains of God.

“Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” — Psalm 62:2

This is just a glimpse of the story… and the journey still unfolding.

Out of these mountains came a message—and now, a movement. We’ve poured this story into a children’s book series called Travis the Brave Tractor—where one little tractor faces unexpected change but discovers that with love, faith, and community, he was made for more.

The books are coming soon… and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Your story matters. Your pain has a purpose. Your life makes an impact.
—Kim Burkhart, The Travis Burkhart Foundation

Updated Story 10-19-2025:

TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF KIM BURKHART.

The Story of Our Family and Travis’s Journey

It was the weekend of February 10th, 2008—our daughter Jenae was turning 17, and our oldest son Ryan was home from Denver. That Sunday morning, our whole family went to church together. I remember sitting there feeling so grateful, so full of joy, just having all my children under one roof again. After service, we planned to drive to Evansville to celebrate Jenae’s birthday.

That weekend started out wonderfully, but it quickly turned into one we will never forget. After church, unexpected conflict and heartache arose, and what had begun as a joyful family day ended in tension and worry. We were heading to Evansville to celebrate Jenae’s birthday after church, but after the events of that morning, I gave Travis the choice to either come with us or stay behind and let things calm down.

He chose to stay, hoping to ease the situation. Unfortunately, later that day, things spiraled into more chaos and emotional turmoil. Out of fear and concern, he decided it was best to remain home until Tuesday. None of us could have imagined how that weekend—filled with stress, confusion, and moments no parent ever wants their child to face—would forever change the course of our lives.

The Call That Changed Everything

 I was at work that Tuesday morning, February 12, 2008, the weather was cold, snowy, and beginning to turn to freezing rain—one of those gray Indiana days where the roads glisten and you can feel the chill deep in your bones. Around 11:30 a.m., Travis called to say he was heading back to school. I begged him to wait, but he said, “Mom, I’ll be okay. I’m 22 years old, and this paper has to be turned in today.”

Thirty minutes later, the phone rang again. It was Mike, his dad. He was on his way to the Farm Show in Louisville with a group of men. His voice was shaking as he said, “Kimberly, Travis has been in a wreck—and it doesn’t look good.”

Sheriff Steve Cox arranged for state police to pick Mike up in Ferdinand and take him to Jasper, where Steve would drive him on to Evansville. Sheriff Jerry Harbstriet came to Odon to get me at the medical clinic where I worked. He drove me first to Daviess Community Hospital, and then on to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. The family had all gathered together and headed to Evansville to be all together.

The drive was unbearable. Fear, disbelief, and helplessness consumed me. How could this be happening? I kept thinking—what kind of injuries did he have, whatever it is, we’ll fix it. But this wasn’t something that could be easily fixed.

Travis had lost control on the freezing roads, spun, hit a truck, then spun again into a ditch. Rumors spread quickly about which Burkhart boy had been in the accident. Soon everyone knew—it was Travis. Many of the first responders and hospital workers were dear friends and coworkers of mine, and none of them thought he would survive. My lifelong friend Tammy, one of the paramedics on scene, stayed by his side with another paramedic, Sarah, the entire time. They kept talking to him, telling him how mad his mom would be if anything happened to him. I do believe those familiar voices helped keep him connected here—but Travis had already faced something far greater. At the scene, he died and came face-to-face with Jesus. Jesus hugged him and told him how much He loved him. Travis told Him the same. Then Jesus gave him a choice: he could go with Him to Heaven, or he could stay. Jesus told him his body would be broken, but he would be with his family. Travis told Jesus he couldn’t leave his mom—she would be too heartbroken. And so, he made the choice to come back… broken.

A Mother’s Hope

By the time I reached the local hospital, Travis was already in transport to Evansville. Evan was there waiting for me. The helicopter couldn’t fly due to weather, so they went by ground ambulance. Sheriff Cox met Mike in Jasper, and together they made it to Deaconess.

The first time we saw Travis, he was being wheeled off the elevator. He looked perfect—like he could just open his eyes and talk to us. At 6’2” and 212 pounds, he was strong and athletic, in the best shape of his life. He had been working out 5-6 days a week. Looking back now, I know God was preparing him for the fight ahead.

The neurosurgeon brought us into a small room and told us Travis had suffered a severe closed head injury and a fractured C-2 vertebra. He told us that Travis would not survive the night—and if he did, he wouldn’t be worth a s*** and likely would spend the rest of his life in a nursing home.

I began to cry, but the doctor snapped, telling me to “suck it up, he wasn’t going to deal with this crap.”  That was the beginning of many difficult encounters with him. Still, we refused to believe what we were told. We knew Travis would live, and he would come home.

Within three days, he had surgery for a trach, IVC filter, and feeding tube. He spent two weeks in ICU, surrounded by people who loved him. I talked to him constantly, rubbed his hands and feet, and told him about everyone who came to see him.

One night, I noticed him rolling his wrists—a movement he always did when weightlifting. The nurse said it was just spasms, but I knew it was more. We never stopped talking to him, telling him who had come to visit, what day it was, and how much we loved him.

After two weeks in ICU, he was transferred to Select Specialty Hospital to continue waking up. I prayed constantly for a sign from God that Travis would recover. I asked Him to show me something on Easter Sunday.

That evening, after Mike and Jenae had gone to the hallway, the day was ending and hope was fading for the answer to my prayer. I told Travis goodnight and said our prayer. As I turned to leave, I heard him whisper, “Mom… Mom… Mom.” I turned and saw his eyes open, looking right at me. It was the first word he’d spoken since the wreck. Tears of praise and thankfulness poured down my face. God’s timing was perfect.

The Long Road Home

After 8 weeks at Select Specialty Hospital, Travis was transferred to HealthSouth Rehab, where he began the long journey of recovery. He faced bacterial pneumonia, high fevers, confusion, dangerous choking episodes, fear, and countless setbacks—but he never stopped fighting.

After spending the last two months at Select Specialty Hospital, he then moved on to HealthSouth Rehab Hospital, where he spent 11 weeks. But shortly after arriving at the rehab, I noticed he did not look good—gray, with dark circles under his eyes. The nurse said he was fine. He wasn’t. I called 911 from his rehab room and had him taken to the ER. At the ER, the doctor on call found that he had pneumonia, and he was admitted. While in the hospital, he got out of bed to go to the bathroom; they said it was too dangerous for him to be up walking, after that, they made him stay in bed, and that’s when the tone set in on his body. There were many other challenges during that stay with his care, and he once again was fighting for his life. I strongly encourage anyone who has a loved one in the hospital to stay with them as much as possible. To advocate, and monitor their care.

 During those hospital stays, he lost 65 pounds and was thinner and weaker than he had ever been in his life. After two weeks, he was transferred back to HealthSouth to begin his rehab. While at HealthSouth, increased medication issues caused his swallowing to become weak. One morning, he almost choked to death in front of me. I yelled for help, but no one came to his aid. I had to reach down his throat myself and pull out the food that was stuck while the nurses, aides, and respiratory staff stood and watched. Those are images that are burned in my mind forever—and ones I never want anyone to experience.

Toward the end of his time at HealthSouth, they started letting us bring him home on a couple of weekends to give him time to adjust—and to give us time to adjust as well.

I remember his face when he saw the house for the first time. It was like, “Wow, I’m home.” But then, on his return to the rehab hospital, his feelings of joy became sadness. We were headed to Evansville, and tears would be streaming down his face. He was still unable to speak, but his sadness was so evident—he didn’t need words.

Then the day came to go home for good.

So, on July 26th, 2008, after **23 weeks and 3 days away from home—a total of 164 days—**Travis came home! When he saw the house that day, his face lit up with pure joy.

For many years, we had been in therapy in Evansville, Cincinnati, Bloomington, Washington, Chicago and Indianapolis. We are now 18 years into the toughest fight of Travis and our family’s lives. Travis continues to work out at Anytime Fitness with his buddy and trainer, Joe. We have faith and hope that he will have a good life and show encouragement to everyone he meets.

During the six months Travis was in the hospital, he always had me, Mike, a close family friend, or another family member with him—he was never alone. But that left my other two children at home. Evan and Jenae were in their junior and senior years of high school. They gave up so much so that Mike and I could be with Travis, and I couldn’t have asked for better kids. They were so unselfish. Local police officers, teachers, friends, and family made sure everything was taken care of at home and that Evan and Jenae were safe and fed. We don’t know what we would have done without everyone’s help. It took a huge worry off our shoulders—we had our hands full getting Travis better so we could finally be home together.

The Fight Continues

 Six years later, Travis began experiencing severe back pain—so intense that he could barely sleep or eat. Because he rarely complained, we knew something was terribly wrong. After two visits to our local doctor, we went to the ER in Bloomington, where tests revealed something shocking: a massive blood clot surrounding an IVC filter—a device we hadn’t even remembered being placed during those early surgeries.

What made the discovery even more difficult was learning that the doctors in Evansville had stopped treating the IVC filter within just a few weeks of inserting it in his body, protocol requires blood thinners to keep the filter clean, and they never scheduled any follow-up care. With everything we were going through at the time, it was something we simply weren’t aware of—and sadly, multiple specialists over the years never caught the dangerous decision that had been made. Over time, that untreated filter became a hidden danger. The clot extended from under his ribs in the vena cava vein, all the way down into both legs, cutting off circulation and threatening amputation.

The ER doctor wanted to send us home with Coumadin and said the clot could be managed with medication. We felt deep in our hearts if we took him home, he wouldn’t survive the diagnosis. We insisted he be transferred to Indianapolis Methodist Hospital. The doctor didn’t see the need for an ambulance and told us he didn’t care what we did, we should just drive him ourselves, so we drove Travis to Indianapolis ourselves—knowing deep down that time was critical and something just wasn’t right.

When we arrived at the ER at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, nurses were waiting outside of the hospital for us, medication in hand and ready. They asked what took us so long. The tests had revealed a massive blood clot surrounding his IVC filter—a clot that extended from under his ribs in the vena cava vein all the way down into both legs, cutting off circulation and threatening amputation.

After Methodist ran multiple tests, the doctors told us it was the largest blood clot they had ever seen. They performed an angioplasty to remove as much of it as possible—and once again, God spared his life.

Faith, Prayer, and the Miracle of Life

During Travis’s time in the hospitals—and even after we finally came home—many prayer groups gathered to lift him up. Friends, family, and complete strangers reached out to let us know they were praying for his healing. Some called, some sent cards, and others simply said his name in prayer.

There were moments during those darkest days when we would receive unexpected phone calls or messages from people—some we knew and some we had never met—telling us about dreams or visions they’d had of Travis. Each time, those words reminded us that God was still at work. We truly believe He used those people to reassure us that He was near and that we were never alone.

Churches across the area sent donations and put Travis on their prayer lists—some of them still pray for him to this day. The outpouring of love was incredible. Friends and neighbors brought food, offered money, and helped however they could. Even in our exhaustion and heartbreak, we could feel God’s presence working through every person who showed up for us.

A man named Dave from our area who lived in Newburgh came every Sunday while Travis was at Select Specialty Hospital and HealthSouth to give us a private church service and communion. His visits became a spiritual lifeline, reminding us that God’s love isn’t confined to a building—it’s wherever His people gather.

Another friend, Joe, would come down every week to play guitar and sing for Travis. He always sang Johnny Cash for Travis, one of his favorite singers.

A friend of mine, Michele, cared for Travis’s dog, Bruiser, while we were away and even brought him down to see Travis. Bruiser knew exactly who his owner was, even though Travis had only had him for two weeks before the wreck. Sadly, Bruiser died shortly after Travis came home—he had eaten insulation, and nothing could be done to save him.

After losing Bruiser, we eventually brought home Molly Grace, a beautiful black Lab who became Travis’s loyal companion for the next twelve years. She was truly his best friend. When we lost her in 2022, it was heartbreaking, but God had another blessing waiting. That blessing came in the form of Ruby Hope, a red fox Lab—a gift from a TikTok friend in Minnesota.

Travis told me once how he felt about the accident,  that “He was glad it happened to him.” I asked what he meant by that? He told me, “He could take it, he didn’t want to see his brothers or sister go through something this hard.”

Travis told me something I’ll never forget. “Mom,” he said, “Did you know I died that day?” He went on to describe meeting Jesus—how He was surrounded by rainbows of light, how He hugged him, told him He loved him, and gave him a choice: to stay or return. If he stayed his body would be broken. Travis said he told Jesus he couldn’t leave his mom, she would be heartbroken. And so, he made the choice, he came back….broken.

A Life of Purpose

Life has gone on. It hasn’t always been an easy journey, but it has been filled with faith, love, grace, lessons, and moments that have strengthened our faith. Through every trial, we’ve seen God’s hand at work—guiding, providing, and showing us how to use our pain for a greater purpose.

Through Travis’s story, we’ve met people all over the world—many who now feel like family. Mike began sharing his story on TikTok, and an entire community rallied behind him, cheering him on, praying, and encouraging him daily. What began as our own story of survival has grown into a story of service. We felt called to help others walking similar roads, to offer the same kind of hope and support that had once been given to us.

We’ve cried countless tears and prayed more prayers than we can count. Still today, I often fall asleep praying and wake up the same way. But every day we are reminded that God is faithful. He is using Travis’s journey to touch lives, bring hope, and glorify His name.

With that calling, the Travis Burkhart Foundation was born. Our goal was simple: to be there for families in crisis—especially those facing medical emergencies and long hospital stays, just as we once did.

We’ve tried to be there for others walking this same difficult path—to give them hope, guidance, and faith. With the help of our community, the Travis Burkhart Foundation was born. What began as a way to say thank you has grown into a mission of helping others.

Over the years, the Foundation has continued to grow, reaching families across Indiana and throughout the United States. Each fundraiser, donation, and act of kindness helps us extend that same lifeline of love we were once given. To date, the Foundation has:

• Helped 2,670 families facing medical challenges or extended hospital stays

• Gifted 34 iPads to individuals with developmental/communication challenges

• Financially assisted 57 wheelchair and mobility ramps for ease of home entry—allowing individuals to return or remain safely at home

• And gifted over $622,000 in financial assistance to those in need

Through it all, we’ve learned that the most meaningful work we can do is to love others—to show up, to give, and to remind them they’re not alone. ________________________________________

Faith, Strength, and Moving Forward

Life for Travis today is steady, full of small victories and daily reminders of how far he has come. He continues to work hard to regain balance, coordination, and strength—pushing forward with the same determination that carried him through those first difficult months.

Travis still faces challenges, but he also continues to inspire everyone who meets him. His story has reached far beyond our small community, touching hearts all over the country. He reminds others that even when life takes a turn we never expected, faith can carry us through.

He often talks about the things he misses—driving, being with his friends, and living life the way he once did—but he also talks about gratitude. Gratitude for the people who love him, for the prayers that have been lifted for him, and for the chance to still be here. Every day with Travis is a gift. His life reminds us that miracles don’t always look the way we expect—they often come in quiet moments of courage, hope, and love.

 Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

From a Real Story to a Brave One

Out of everything we’ve walked through—the fear, the miracles, the tears, and the unshakable faith—something beautiful began to grow. It started small, as a mother’s way to help children/adults understand her son’s journey. But God had a bigger plan.

That simple idea became Travis the Brave Tractor—a children’s series inspired by real love, real struggle, and real faith. These stories carry pieces of our life woven into every line. They show what it means to be brave when life doesn’t go as planned, to find hope when things look broken, and to remember that being different doesn’t mean being less.

Through the eyes of a tractor named Travis, children—and adults—see that our value isn’t in what we can do, but in who we are. Every scratch, scar, and change in his story mirrors what so many people feel in their own hearts: that life can hurt, but healing is possible. That God can take the hardest seasons and use them to shine His light.

Each book is a glimpse into the heart of this journey—showing that kindness matters, that helping others brings joy, and that even when we’re scared, we can still choose courage. Most of all, they remind every reader, young or old, that it’s okay to be different. Because being different means you were made for something extraordinary.

From the fields of our family farm to the hearts of families around the world, these stories are a testament to love that endures, hope that never quits, and faith that keeps us steady—no matter how rough the road becomes.

________________________________________

Kim’s Reflection

When I look back on everything our family has been through—the sleepless nights, the hospital rooms, the thousands of miles, the answered prayers, and the countless miracles—I see God’s fingerprints everywhere.

Writing these books wasn’t just about telling a story. It was about living one. Every word is a reflection of the boy who never stopped fighting, the family who never stopped believing, and the God who never stopped showing up.

Travis’s story became more than ours—it became a message for anyone who has ever felt broken, forgotten, or different. Through Travis the Brave Tractor, we’ve been able to share the truth that even in our hardest moments, God still writes beautiful stories.

If these books help one child see their own worth, help one parent feel hope again, or remind one heart that they’re not alone—then every tear, every prayer, and every page has been worth it.

Because at the heart of it all, this isn’t just a story about a tractor. It’s a story about faith, love, and the kind of bravery that changes everything.

Still Brave. Still Loved. Still Strong.

Told from the perspective of Kim Burkhart.

It was the weekend of Feb 10th, 2008, and our daughter Jenae was turning 17. Our older son, Ryan was home from Denver. We had all gone to church that Sunday morning. I was so happy to have all my children together in church and I was looking forward to a wonderful day with my kids celebrating Jenae’s 17th birthday. At the end of the church services, we were to travel to Evansville to eat for Jenae’s birthday. Certain events kept Travis from being with the family celebrating his sister’s birthday and heading back to school in Evansville to the University of Southern Indiana. On Monday, Ryan decided he needed to head back to Denver to take care of some business. I asked him not to go, something was telling me he shouldn’t leave. We never dreamed we would have to call and tell him he needed to get back quickly for his brother Travis. On Monday, the weather turned really bad. It began to snow, freezing rain was a threat and the temps were falling. So his return to school was postponed until Tuesday morning Feb 12, 2008. This ordinary Tuesday would quickly change Travis' life forever. In fact, it would change all of our lives forever.

I was at work when Travis called to tell me he was heading back to Evansville around 11:30 a.m. I asked him not to go but he said: " Mom I'll be okay I'm 22 years old and this paper has to be turned in today". Thirty minutes later I got the call. It was Mike, Travis' dad. He was on his way to the Farm Show in Louisville with a group of men. He said, "Kimberly, Travis has been in a wreck, and it doesn’t look good". Sheriff Steve Cox had called for the state police to pick Mike up in Ferdinand and took him to Jasper where Steve would take Mike on from there. Former Sheriff Jerry Harbstriet came to Odon to pick me up. He first took me to Daviess Community Hospital and then on to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Words cannot begin to describe my feelings, fear, sadness, anxiousness, and complete devastation. How could this happen? Did he have internal injuries or broken bones? Whatever it was we could fix it. But this journey wouldn’t be that easy. He had lost control in the freezing rain. He spun around, hit a truck, and then spun around again and hit the ditch. Many rumors started flying around about which Burkhart boy had been in the wreck. Soon everyone learned it was Travis. So many of the people that worked the wreck, and the ER were close personal friends of ours. None of them thought he would survive, and they were deeply affected by this horrible tragedy. One of my lifelong friends, Tammy, was one of the paramedics who were on the scene first. She and Sara another paramedic, stayed with Travis the entire time telling him how mad his mom would be if she let anything happen to him. I truly believe that all the familiar voices yelling his name and talking to him kept him here with us. Their love, care, and personal interest were the driving force behind getting him to where he is today. Travis would later tell us an incredible story that someday he will tell everyone else. My brother, Bobby, was the first to get to the hospital to be with Travis and then soon after him, several other family members began to arrive. By the time the police got me to Daviess Community Hospital, Travis was already in transport to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville by ambulance. They had wanted to transport him by helicopter to Indianapolis, but the weather conditions had made it impossible. Sheriff Steve Cox had met Mike in Jasper where a state police officer was waiting with Mike and took him on to Evansville where all of our family eventually met to be with Travis.

The first time we saw Travis he was being brought off the elevator. There laid our son. He looked perfect like he could just sit up and talk to us. Travis is 6'2" and 212 lbs. He was lifting weights 4-5 times a week for 2-3 hours at a time. He was in the strongest and best shape he had ever been in. How would we have ever known that God was preparing him for the fight of his life. The neurosurgeon soon called us into a very tiny room to update us on Travis' condition. He told us that he had suffered a severe closed head injury and a fracture of the C-2 in his neck. He told us he probably would not survive through the night and if he did, he would spend the rest of his life in a nursing home. Travis’ mom began to cry, and the neurosurgeon abruptly told her he didn’t have time for a crying mom and to suck it up. That was the beginning of many unprofessional encounters with this man. We refused to believe either of the choices we were given. Travis would live and he would come home. Within 3 days of being in the ICU, he had surgery to put him in a trach, IVC filter and feeding tube to help him recover and gain strength. There were times when there were so many people (over the 2 weeks he was in ICU) with us they actually wanted to move us to a larger room. While in ICU Travis began “rolling his wrists”. This is a habit he had because of the weightlifting, his wrist would feel tight from all the strain of working out. I was so excited to see him doing that and I quickly pointed it out to a nurse. She politely told me it was only spasms, but I knew better. We would constantly talk to him and tell him the events of the day and everyone that had come to see him. My sister-in-law Ruthanne and I constantly rubbed his feet and hands to help relax him and let him know we were there with him. The hospital gave us a room where Mike, Evan, Jenae, and I slept so we could be close by. Mike and I went down to the ICU every two hours thru the night and were with him constantly during the day. He spent the first 2 weeks in ICU in a coma and then he was transferred to a Select Specialty hospital for the next 8 weeks to continue waking up. At Select, he showed signs of problem-solving, recognition, and many more cognitive skills.  I had prayed and prayed, the truth is I prayed nonstop, for some sign to let me know he was going to recover and be okay. I had asked God to give me that sign on Easter. On Easter, Sunday Mike and Jenae told Travis goodnight and went into the hallway. I told him goodnight and that I loved him and then said our prayer. As I turned to leave, not yet getting my prayer answered, I heard Travis say Mom, Mom, Mom. It stopped me in my steps. I turned to see him looking at me and calling my name. This was the first time he had spoken since the wreck. The tears poured like rain that night in praise and thankfulness for my answered prayer at just the perfect time. God’s timing is always perfect. After spending the last two months at Select Specialty Hospital he then moved on to HealthSouth rehab hospital where he spent 11 weeks. But shortly after arriving at the rehab he developed bacterial pneumonia. He was then transported back to Deaconess Hospital where he would stay for 2 weeks. He once again was fighting for his life. During the hospital stays he lost 65 pounds and was thinner and weaker than he had ever been in his life. He was then transferred back to Health South to begin his rehab. While at Health South certain issues caused his swallowing to become weak. One week he almost choked to death in front of me. Those are images that are burned in my mind forever and never want to see anyone experience such a traumatic event. Toward the end of his stay at HealthSouth rehab hospital, they let us bring him home on the weekends. I remember his face when he saw the house for the first time. It was like “Wow” I'm home. At that point, he had been away from home for 21 weeks. But then on his return to the rehab hospital, his feelings of joy became sadness. We were south of Petersburg and tears were streaming down his face. He was still unable to speak but his sadness was so evident, he didn’t need words. Then the day came to go home for good. So, on July 26th, 2008, Travis came home! From that date until the present, we have been in therapy in Evansville, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. We are now 15 years into the toughest fight of Travis and our family’s lives. Travis continues to make progress in Speech, Physical, Occupational, Hippo therapy, and Hyperbaric Oxygen therapies. We have faith and hope that he will make a complete recovery. During the 6 months, Travis was in the hospital he always had me, Mike, a close family friend, or another family member with him, he was never alone. But that left my other two children at home alone. Evan and Jenae were in their junior and senior years in high school. They gave up a lot so that Mike and I could be with Travis, and I couldn’t have asked for better kids. They were so unselfish. Local police officers, teachers, friends, and family made sure everything was taken care of at home and that Evan and Jenae were safe and fed. I don’t know what we would have done without everyone’s help. It took a huge worry off our shoulders we had our hands full with getting Travis better so we could get home.

Six years down the road, Travis began complaining of back pain. So severe that he could not sleep or eat. He never complained so we knew something was incredibly wrong. After two trips to our local doctor, we discovered he had an IVC filter. During the shock of the accident and the condition, Travis was in we didn’t remember this procedure being done. We then went to a larger hospital. We sat in the emergency room for 8 hours. The ER doctor told us he had a blood clot. He was going to start him on Coumadin and send us home. Well, that was not going to happen. We asked to go to Indianapolis. The doctor said he didn’t care where we went. We asked that Travis’ ER record be sent to Indianapolis and off we went. When we arrived at the ER in Indy, they were waiting on us in the ER. The nurses asked us what took so long. They told us that Travis had the largest blood clot they had ever seen. It began up under his rib cage in the vena cava vein and extended down into both legs. It was cutting off circulation. We were faced with possible double-leg amputation. Just think if we would have gone home as the one doctor suggested. It would have been a tragic ending. While in the hospital in Indy he underwent an angioplasty surgery to physically remove as much of the blood clot as possible.

During his stay in the various hospitals and even when we came home several prayer groups came and prayed over Travis for his healing. Many times, during the most difficult times we would have encounters/phone calls from people we know and didn’t know. They would tell us of dreams/visions they had of Travis. We believe God was using them to reassure us He is always with us. Area churches sent money and put Travis on their prayer lists, some still have him on there to this day. So many friends and family brought us food and money, the outpouring of love for us was incredible. We even had a man from our area who lives in Newburgh, Dave, who would come every Sunday and give us our own private church service and communion while we were at Select and HealthSouth. A close friend of mine, Michele, took care of Travis’ dog and even brought him down to see Travis. Bruiser, Travis’ dog, knew exactly who his owner was even though Travis had only had him 2 weeks before the wreck. Sadly, Bruiser died shortly after Travis came home. He had eaten insulation and it lodged in his intestines and there was nothing that could be done to save him. We went on to get Molly Grace, our black lab. She was an amazing dog. We lost her in 2022, she was 12 years old and Travis’ best friend. We now have Ruby Hope, she is a Red Fox lab. A gift from one of our Tik Tok friends in Minnesota.

One day while driving to an appointment Travis asked me if I knew he had died the day of his accident. Once again, I caught my breath. I reached over and pinched his arm. I said no sweetie you are still here with us. He said no, I died. He later went on to continue to talk about his death experience. He spoke about seeing Jesus face-to-face within milliseconds of his dying. He said Jesus walked towards him with rainbows of light surrounding him. My first thought was Travis was seeing the emergency lights coming to help him. But as he went on to describe more and more, I knew it was the essence/beauty of Christ. Jesus hugged Travis and told him how much he loved him. That everything was going to be all right. During that time with Christ, he gave Travis a choice. He asked Travis, do you want to go with me or do you want to stay? He told Travis the condition he would return in. The broken body that he would live with for the rest of his life. The loneliness he would feel. He told Jesus that he couldn’t leave his mom, she would be mad at him if he did. So, he came back. This happened about 8 months after the accident. He went on to describe Jesus and how he looked. An amazing thing is to see the Savior face to face and return. This is also the time he began waking up and speaking more and more.

Life has gone on. It hasn’t always been an easy journey. But it is full of adventures, love, experiences, friends, family, and faith. We have made friends all over the world. Mike began telling Travis’ story on Tik Tok and quickly amassed a network of friends that have become our family. Each one holds a special place in our hearts. They love and protect Travis and always make him feel like he is one of the guys. Which is all he wants, to feel wanted and needed. There is still part of Travis’ story leading up to his accident that not many people know about. One day it will be told, but not yet.

 There is no way you could count the tears I’ve cried and the prayers that I have said nonstop. And still, they continue today. I don’t think I sleep; I fall asleep praying and wake in the morning praying. We continue to be positive and look toward the future that God has placed before us. It’s not easy, but we must trust that He will bring us through this. Even though we don’t understand why things have happened this way, we know it is the way God wants it to be. One thing I do know is that this is a loving, caring, and Godly community. God is using Travis to bring glory to His name through this journey. And each day we wake up is a blessing and we pray this will be the day that God will choose to heal Travis here on earth. But we know that just because it didn’t happen today doesn’t mean it won’t happen tomorrow.

We have tried to be there for the other people who are beginning their journey down this road. To guide them, give them hope and a direction to go. We have been extremely blessed by so many who have helped in Travis' journey through this tragic event. Many prayed, gave money, and watched over and fed our two other children who at the time were still in high school. There was a breakfast benefit put together for us to help with expenses along with a flood of monetary donations. We went on to organize an annual golf scramble that continues today. The golf scramble has grown into such a blessing to us and to several families in the area. We also are 10 years into TBF Day at the Park at Busch Stadium in St Louis with the Cardinal organization. Money is also raised through our sponsorships from individuals and businesses. Sponsorships can also be in honor or in memory of a loved one. We use the money raised to help others in the community. Currently, we have helped around 1421 families who have had a family member experience an accident or illness that takes them from home for an extended period, 22 iPads for individuals with communication issues, and gifted $363,303.79. Also, we have recently broadened our reach with the Travis Burkhart Foundation Midwest branch. Money for this branch comes from outside of the Indiana state lines. All money donated here in Indiana stays in Indiana. We could not have come this far without everyone’s love, support, and prayers.

Currently, Travis is doing very well. He is working hard to regain his balance and coordination. And in time we are hopeful he will succeed. Travis recently told me that he misses driving and being with his friends the most. And we, as a family, will remember everyone who stood by us and gave us unconditional love and support in our time of need. Remember,

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”.

God bless each one of you and thank you so much for your love and support.