Christian prefers to be in his organized room, and one day, he hopes to live in Florida and work as a crime scene investigator. He enjoys Marvel Comic Books, video games and time with family.

Christian’s family is always on the lookout for miracles. At first, they wanted to focus on Christian walking again. But then they realized the importance of celebrating every moment—the opening of the eyes, the shift of a finger—actions that took Christian months to accomplish.  

“When we share with Christian how excited we are about the little things, it creates momentum,” Dave says. “It’s not asking, ‘Can you bench press 500 pounds?’ It’s saying, ‘Can you move your finger? Awesome, let’s try to move two fingers next time.’” 

Hannah Neiyer, a home health nurse, has become part of the family. The household affectionately calls her “Hannah’s Bananas.” She first joined Christian’s care team at Phoenix Children’s one month after his accident. When Christian transitioned home, Hannah changed her schedule to part time at Phoenix Children’s so she could remain by his side.  

Dave and Lori believe faith is a key factor in recovery. “It’s 100% the reason Christian is still here,” Lori says. They hope Phoenix Children’s Spiritual Care program continues to receive the donations it needs. “You are in a place of darkness. To have people like the chaplains come in and show life and love—those were our best days,” Lori says. 

To communicate which shoes he would like to wear, Christian tracks the style he wants with his eyes. “It’s important to give Christian choices and talk to him like any other 15-year-old,” Hannah says. Offering options—for example, “Do you want to sit in your favorite spot outside?” or “Would you like to watch CSI or Murder Mystery?”—is a way to respect his freedom.  

It takes three people to transition Christian into an upright position. During surgery, physicians removed a section of his skull. He wears a helmet when moving to protect his brain until this bone can be replaced. “When I get him up, I’ll say, ‘It’s time for my hug,’” Hannah says. “Before I lift him to the chair, I squeeze him. I interact with Christian like he’s a brother slash best friend.”  

Super Cooper, a service dog, is another vital member of Christian’s care team. He enjoys daily walks with the family, and he often can be found resting at Christian’s feet.

Christian continues to gain strength. He’s off several of the medications he was taking at Phoenix Children’s, and he can sit in a chair more hours per day. As far as respiratory health goes, his tracheostomy, a hole that surgeons make in the windpipe, is now capped. This means he no longer needs assistance to breathe.

Posters covered in words of encouragement adorn the home. Each one is a daily reminder of how far Christian has come and that he is not alone. There's a whole army of people cheering him on.  

The family exudes warmth and joy. They continue to choose positivity amidst difficult circumstances. Hannah reports she never hears Dave and Lori complain. She watches them do everything they can for Christian and still make time for their other children, Fiona and Jesse.   

Christian is a big fan of video games. He enjoys playing Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto with Jesse. Family members assist Christian by wrapping his hands around the controller. 

When Dave was hit by the bikers, he broke his ankle, jaw and fingers. He has since healed from his injuries. External markers that told the story of a father willing to sacrifice it all for his son are no longer visible on his body. But his act of love will not be forgotten. He continues to offer his life by showing up for Christian every day.

Early on in Christian’s medical journey, Hannah wrote “Keep Moving Mountains” on his white board. These words would become his motto.  

Christian’s family knows his recovery is far from over, but they also know where he is now is not the end. “Christian is a miracle story. He survived a horrible accident and fought his way through injury and doubt,” Lori says. “We can’t wait for him to come back to Phoenix Children’s and say to the other children, ‘Don’t give up. Nothing is impossible with faith.’”