• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Prayers and well-wishes requested...

Cat_72

Cat_72

Back from exile :)
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
7,103
Reaction score
54
Points
48
Location
Kiester, MN
I normally don't post this sort of thing, but....

My son Josh's friend and 2nd cousin, Tyler Olson (known affectionately as "T.O."), suffered a broken neck in last Friday's high school football game. He has an incomplete spinal cord injury, and the C5, C6, and C7 vertebrae were all affected. He was life-flighted to St. Mary's in Rochester, MN where he remains in serious condition. He has recovered some feeling and limited movement with his arms, and does have some sensation in his knees and toes. He underwent emergency surgery the night he arrived, and is undergoing another surgery today to further stabilize the back of his vertebrae. Any further prognosis remains to be seen with time.

T.O. is one of those kids....a leader, an inspiration to those around him, and a biggoofball that can make anyone laugh. Even moreso now...through everything he has maintained his strength, determination, and sense of humor. His injury has had an impact on so many that know and love him as well, and to see an entire high school football team, under their own direction, step up to the altar at church, drop to their knees, pray and cry...you realize what a tragedy this is. A junior in high school...there is never a good time for something like this to happen to anyone, but someone so young, so strong, with their whole life ahead of them...

I am simply requesting those who read this to take a moment, and say a prayer for T.O., send him a positive thought, or just think of him and his family and loved ones. Tyler needs all of the support he can get.

Thank you.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerolson

http://www.kimt.com/news/local/27980999.html

Community Prays for Injured Lake Mills Football Player by Brian Scott
KIMT News 3

LAKE MILLS, IA - Family, friends, and teammates are praying for the recovery of a North Iowa high school football player. On Sunday night, people came together in Lake Mills to pray for Tyler Olson and wish him well in his recovery, after he suffered a broken neck on Friday night. The event brought in lots of friends and fellow players.

"We're all members of the Forest City football team, we just wanted to come out and show the respect to the family, and to Tyler," said Anthony Church, his team was playing Lake Mills the night of the injury and they came out to show their support.

And they weren't alone. Several hundred people filled the Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills Sunday to show their support for Tyler. Along with prayers, many filled out get well messages to be sent to Olson. The mayor of Lake Mills told said this is the town at it's best, coming together in a time of need. The crowd was very emotional as Tyler's sister Kessa gave them an update on his condition. She says he is starting to get feeling back in his knees and toes, but his recovery could be very long.

"He was awake and his trachea tube got taken out today and he was talking to people and a lot of people came up to see him, and he was really excited," said an emotional Kessa. "We're so thankful that everybody's come and visited and all the prayers cause God is definitely hearing us and answering our prayers."

Kessa also says despite everything, Tyler's been in good spirits and hasn't lost his sense of humor. She says he was even joking around when paramedics were putting on the neck brace Friday night saying his ears were way too big for that!

Tyler Olson was hurt during his team's football game against Forest City on Friday evening. The Lake Mills Defensive Back suffered a broken neck. Sunday night, he was listed in serious condition at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Olson's family has set up a website to offer updates on his condition. You can learn more about what he's doing and post get well messages.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Saying a little prayer right now Cat! So Sorry to hear this. Get well soon Tyler!! :thumbsup:
 
Your all in my thoughts. If there's anything we/ I can do, just let us know.
 
I wish him well and will keep this boy in my thoughts. *crossing my fingers too!*

Keep it up bud! Sounds like hes got some Serious strength to remain so light hearted about things
 
Tyler was moved to a new room today, actually got to eat something....and lifted his hand to scratch his nose! He still cannot move his fingers, but just the fact that he has lifted his arm so far and with enough motor skills to hit his nose....it's a huge victory. A "baby step" in the big picture, but proof that the prayers and positive thoughts being sent his way are working, and that his determination (and competitive desire, he really HATES to lose lol) are coming through for him. No futher updates on anything below arm level.....but the improvement elsewhere gives hope. He's sitting further up, and is impatient to start the real work of his physical therapy.

It's driving Josh and all of the boys crazy not being able to go see him since his last surgery... they realize that it's for the best but it doesn't stop them from being mad about it! You should see the whole town....and even in surrounding towns....everywhere you look, you see T.O. and his football number #84, along with prayers and how much he is missed expressed. Windows painted with his name on vehicles, businesses, every business that has any kind of changeable signage has "T.O" on it instead of advertising. Its awe-inspiring how many people have pulled together in hope and prayer for T.O.

Thanks to all that have sent a prayer, kind word, or even just thought of him....it really DOES make a difference.
 
An update on Tyler, and a chance for everyone to see what we all love about this young man.....

Since they have not allowed him any visitors other than immediate family since his last surgery, the wonderful folks at Mayo got together with some wonderful folks here in town, and with the help of WCCO tv, set up a "video conference between Tyler and the whole team. Something all of them were beside themselves with joy, and a few tears, about.

He has made some progress with his arms, he can do some more things assisted but still cannot move his fingers, though he is getting more feeling.

Anyway, I've attached a link to the story and interview with Tyler and his Mom from WCCO. After watching it, I know why seing Tyler this way affected Josh the way it did. It's so hard to see him that way....but yet his words and spirit are still an inspiration.

http://wcco.com/video/[email protected]
 
That is one heck of a kid! Kid, heck he's one heck of a human being! Any time I feel my life sucks all I have to think about is him. The wonderous part is he is so monumentally upbeat that you can help but love him!

You've got one heck of a kid too if he recognises that in his friend.

Darn, where the heck did I put the stinking kleenex?
 
That's just it, Maggie...I don't think I know many people that could be as strong as Tyler is, when they are truly so vulnerable. I've watched that clip many times over, and still can't look at it without knowing where my kleenex are beforehand. We need more "T.O.'s" in the world.

Thanks Maggie....and all who have wished Tyler well.
 
There's a lump in my throat and a sadness in my heart that we can't just magically fix our kids when they need fixing the most.

My prayers, my thoughts and all my best wishes are with T.O. and his family and friends. His strength and determination are truly inspiring and a wonderful message. He will prevail!
 
Back
Top