Reasons to be thankful? Start with life ... and friends

On Aug. 17, a pickup truck slammed into Hunter's Ford Explorer as he tried crossing Highway 10. Young was between pizza delivery stops for Twin Pines Family Restaurant. The collision caved in the driver's side of Young's vehicle.

His resulting injuries -- two neck fractures, a ruptured spleen, broken ribs and a concussion -- forced him to miss this football season. But he started varsity basketball practice this week feeling normal. He cannot recall the accident but he will not forget the support of friends and teammates.

"Quite simply, I'm just happy to be alive," he said. "Every Thanksgiving you try to think of all the things that you can be thankful for. It's fairy simple to do considering I live in a nice house and I get to play sports. But this year puts a whole new aspect on it."

Royalton (12-1) will play at 1 p.m. Friday against rival Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (11-2) at the Metrodome. If the accident had never happened, Young, a junior, might be a wide receiver or special teams contributor. He might still be the Royals' quarterback next season. But Friday, he will wear his No. 11 jersey on the sideline, content to smack the helmets and pat the backsides of teammates closing in on a dream. They are teammates who helped ease his nightmare.

Young spent four days in St. Cloud Hospital, located about 20 miles southwest of Royalton, where his mother counted more than 100 visitors in the first 48 hours. Teammate Derek Fussy, Young's friend since kindergarten, feared what he might see, but a few minutes with Young relieved his worry.

"I just smiled and said, 'Hey, how you doing, dude?'" Fussy said. "And Hunter's like, 'Tell coach I'll be ready to pad up for the game on Friday.'"

If Young's spirit lifted teammates, their presence gave him a similar feeling. After sitting out his freshman and sophomore seasons of football, Young decided he wanted to play as a junior. He participated in team drills in the summer, but the accident occurred just before the start of fall practice.

Playing football strengthened his bond with teammates, who supported him in the days and weeks after the accident.

"If I wouldn't have been playing football and I got in the accident, I would have been more by myself," he said. "It wouldn't have been as easy for me because all my friends would have been at football and I wouldn't have been able to have any part of that. They helped ease me back."

Authorities hauled Young's truck to an impound lot where it incurred daily charges. Fussy offered the use of his trailer to get the truck out. He also cared for the Youngs' three dogs and one cat while the family stayed at the hospital.

Upon Young's return home, Fussy and five or six others played Madden Football until Young fell asleep. They did not want their friend to be alone.

Young can't remember anything about his accident, or the one that claimed his sister's life.

On Nov. 3, 1993, Raquelle was a passenger in her Uncle Scott's vehicle when it flipped five times. Scott, then 16, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown out the sunroof. Raquelle, then 10, remained in the car as it slid down a 50-foot hill before coming to a stop in a pond no more than 5 feet deep. Unable to remove her seat belt, she drowned.

Brian Young, her father, got a tattoo on his right arm to honor his daughter. He was explaining the tattoo's significance to a friend on Aug. 17 when his cell phone rang. It was the chaplain at St. Cloud Hospital.

"One of my first thoughts was, 'Oh no, not again,'" Eileen said. "I believe in God and I believe that Hunter's big sister was his guardian angel."

Since Hunter's accident, Brian wears the silver cross his son received from church for his confirmation.

"I can't be thankful enough that he is here," Eileen said. "I don't know how I could survive if he wouldn't have. I just can't thank God enough -- and Raquelle and my dad and my husband's mom and whoever else was watching over him."