Happy to Be Home; Long Recovery Ahead
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Updated: 10:49 PM Feb 29, 2008
Happy to Be Home; Long Recovery Ahead
21-year-old Brian Schulz doesn't remember the snowmobile crash that killed two of his friends. He found out just a couple of days ago that they died. Now resting at home, he's amazed he's alive.
Posted: 9:24 PM Feb 29, 2008
Reporter: Mary Rinzel
Email Address: mary.rinzel@weau.com
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A 21-year-old man is back home in Augusta, five weeks after his snowmobile hit a truck head on and two of his friends died.

Brian Schulz still has a long recovery ahead of him, but he also has big plans for the near future.

Brian doesn't remember the crash that killed his friends. He found out just a couple of days ago that they died. Now resting at home, he's amazed he's alive.

"In two weeks, I get the pins out of my wrist," Brian says showing us his bandaged arms.

Brian is happy to be home and determined to get back on his feet.

"I have to learn how to walk," he says. "I don't know how I survived."

Brian spent the last five weeks at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. His pelvis and both legs shattered. Both arms broke. Pictures of happier times, taped to the wall.

"We couldn't help him much other than pray,” Brian’s Dad Kurt Schulz says.

“We'd go in his room a lot and talk to him so he knew we were here," his Mom Cindy tells us.

Brian only remembers the last two weeks of his hospital stay. Two days ago, he had his worst day.

"Finding out about my friends, Until then it wasn't that bad. That hurt," he says.

23-year-old Brady Dickenson and 19-year-old Krista Bergman both died at the scene of the January crash near Augusta. The Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department says the group of five snowmobilers were going at least 60 miles an hour, on the wrong side of a road when they came over a hill and two hit a truck.

Friday, reading 'get well wishes' with his parents by his side, Brian's wish is to get back to work.

"Keep on farming; that's what I love. I can't wait until the day," he tells us.

It’s a day his parents say may be sooner than some think.

"A couple days ago, a nurse said ‘we'll have up and ready to harvest’ and he said 'no, I’ll plant,’” Cindy Schulz says with a laugh.

Brian lost 40 pounds in the hospital. So, Friday he said his immediate plans call for some home-cooked meals. The doctors told him he could be walking again in two months.


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