At just six years old, Nolan Stevenson’s life changed in a single instant.
What was supposed to be an ordinary evening on the family farm turned into a tragedy that would reshape their lives forever.
The UTV Nolan was riding in with his parents flipped unexpectedly.
Nolan and his father were thrown from the vehicle.
The sound of sirens soon filled the air, and within hours Nolan was fighting for his life.
He was flown to a hospital and then transferred to University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
By the time he arrived, his little body carried more injuries than most people would endure in a lifetime.
Doctors called it “polytrauma” — trauma to multiple organs and body parts.
Nolan’s pelvis was fractured on one side and crushed on the other.
He endured a 15-hour surgery where his bladder was reconstructed and countless repairs were made to keep his body functioning.
Doctors told his family this kind of case happens “once every 10 years.”
For his mother, Justine Brink, those words were hard to comprehend.
Within days, the family was forced to make choices no parent ever dreams of making.
The damage was too severe.
His left leg had to be amputated below the knee.
A week later, doctors removed the left side of his pelvis.
Every decision came with tears, prayers, and fear.
But Nolan kept fighting.
To heal his skin, he went through 38 dressing changes, seven debridement surgeries, and multiple grafts.
Day after day, the hospital became his home.
After 84 days, Nolan was finally discharged.
Through it all, his family remembers not only the medical care but the compassion.
Nurses cried with them.
Doctors hugged them.
Together, they carried Nolan through the darkest nights.
Nolan’s case has since been studied by medical students and residents, inspiring future doctors.
His pain has become a purpose — teaching others how to heal.
His story has already touched countless lives.
Meanwhile, his father Adam also needed surgeries on his hip and wrist.
The family leaned on neighbors, friends, and their community to keep their farm going.
Support poured in, reminding them they were not alone.
Back at home, Nolan faced the challenge of adapting to life with a prosthetic leg.
He first returned to school in a wheelchair, then learned to walk again with strength and determination.
By fourth grade, he was back to golfing, swimming, fishing, and laughing with friends.
Perhaps the most touching moment came with his bottle calf.
Before Nolan returned from the hospital, no one could get the calf to walk.
But when Nolan wheeled up beside it, the calf walked with him.
That summer, Nolan showed his calf at competitions, proving his spirit could not be broken.
His parents admire his resilience.
“He can make anyone laugh,” his mother says.
“He adapts to every challenge,” adds his father.
Now nine years old, Nolan continues to visit his care team for checkups.
But more importantly, he continues to live with joy.
He smiles.
He plays.
He dreams.
Last summer, Nolan experienced something unforgettable.
At the Iowa Hawkeye football team’s annual Kids Day, he met players, signed autographs, and walked out of the tunnel with the team during “The Swarm.”
In that moment, Nolan wasn’t a trauma patient.
He was simply a boy living out a dream.
The accident changed everything.
But Nolan’s courage, his family’s love, and the compassion of countless people have carried them through.
What began as tragedy has turned into a story of resilience, healing, and hope.
