Perspectives Nathaniel’s Story

by Paula Key

A s chaplains at Winter Ranch RV Resort, we check up on residents to see how everyone is doing. What concerns them, concerns us, and more importantly, concerns God. As we learned of one couple’s grandson, Nathaniel, who broke his neck in July diving into a pond in Iowa, we were amazed at the tenacity of this teenager and the miracles of God being done as he persevered.

Nathaniel has gone from being paralyzed from the waist down with minimal movement in his arms and hands to now being able to sit up, turn over, feed himself, master a manual wheelchair, walk with a walker, swim on his own, and go back to school a few half-days a week--in just five months. Physical therapy is ongoing and not for the weak of heart. God has blessed Nathaniel’s efforts and his faith in God to the point that the doctors are even saying he shouldn’t be able to do these things and that it is a miracle.

Before the diving accident,

Paula Key is the wife of Chaplain Dennis Key at Winter Ranch RV Resort in Alamo. They are with Christian Resort Ministries, which provides non-denominational worship services in RV resorts throughout the RGV. You can contact the Keys for their service times at offdkey@yahoo.com or contact Christian Resort Ministries at crmintl.org for opportunities to serve in your community.

Nathaniel was heavily involved with competition in swimming, archery, cross country, and golf and was also in the marching and concert bands. Besides all of that, he is an avid fisherman and turkey and deer hunter. He is looking forward to competing in his high school Para Swimming Division this winter. While Nathaniel is building up his strength and coordination through continuing physical therapy and trust in God, it is impossible for him to go anywhere outside. He needs a special type of wheelchair to maneuver the uneven grass and