Flyboy Donuts

A baby at least knows how to focus their eyes on what they want to look at and use their tongue. I didn’t know how to do any of that,” he said. “The most crucial thing I did all the way through this wasn’t the therapy, but it was saying to the Lord, ‘Here is my good and here is my bad, do with it as you may.” Rod valued the support he received from family, friends, the community and their extended rodeo family. “Rural people will get behind someone who’s fallen on hard times. If it weren’t for the rural type of people wanting to be there to help me, this whole story would have ended up much different than it has. Your country people are good, down-to-earth people.” Rod happened to leave the hospital the same day the Lennox Sundstrom FFA was holding a pancake feed as a benefit for him. “They were not expecting to have 725 people. They drained every store of eggs and other supplies,” Barbara said. Rod arrived in Lennox after most people had left the fundraiser, but he was able to greet a few of his supporters. The FFA chapter made the pancake feed an annual event, raising money for different families in need in the community. Working closely with the school district and a great tutor, Rod was able to finish his senior year of high school and graduate with his classmates. In an emotional moment at the ceremony, Rod slowly and haltingly walked unassisted across the stage to accept his diploma.

SHARING HIS TESTIMONY

When he completed his years of therapy, Rod had a chance to give his personal testimony as a guest at the Young Pro Team Ropers Camp in Texas, a faith-based camp for up-and-coming team roping professionals. Word-of-mouth was strong and others began calling. For 10 years, he traveled mostly in the southern and southeastern U.S. as a Christian motivational speaker. He spoke in 20 states and to more than 30,000 people. “I gave my testimony of what God had done for me in my recovery. That was a fun time in my life.” He told every group that the Lord has a plan for their lives. “Maybe you’re walking in it right now, but you might not be walking in it for five, 10, 15 or 20 years. But if you keep walking with Him, you’ll be walking in your destiny.” Rod got off the long-distance speaking circuit in March 2019. Being on the road eight months of the year, he was ready for a change of pace.