Brian Engebretson of Clearbrook received a big surprise Monday

Monday, September 21 was a big day for Brian Engebretson as he was surprised with an “Action Trackchair” at Clearbrook. He thought he was going to attend a monthly meeting of Clear Waters Life Center and was totally surprised when he was presented with the new equipment. 

The Action Trackchair and Trackstander comes equipped with power seat tilt as a standard feature making it the ultimate in off-road wheelchairs. You will go places you didn’t think possible. With the Action Trackchair he will be able to navigate mountain roads, campgrounds, woods, beaches, hiking trails, frozen lakes, shallow streams, muddy and snowy terrain and much more. Now he has the choice to stay on hard surfaces or go off-road.

On August 13, 2003, 21-year-old Brian Engebretson was helping his dad with farm-work. Brian was stacking straw bales from the baler onto a trailer when he slipped off the front of the trailer. He attempted to roll to safety but was caught under the trailer; his body doubled over as he went under the fully loaded trailer axle. His spine was crushed, and Brian was paralyzed from the waist down. Even though Brian was severely injured. God’s hand of protection was with him as he could easily have died in the accident.

After surgery to fuse his spine, Brian spent time in rehab, learning to live life without the use of his legs. As Brian’s body healed and recovered from the trauma, he quickly learned how to navigate using his wheelchair and to drive a car with hand controls. With the help of his family, Brian had a successful deer hunt just three months after his accident.

In the ensuing years, Brian attended Northland Community College for Computer Assisted Drafting, worked occasionally for Tom Jones, a local architect, and independently designed several local homes and buildings. He also helped his dad on the farm, fixed small engines, and did some woodworking during this time. He was always busy with a wide variety of jobs. For the past several years he has worked full-time at Northwest Cabinets in Wilton.

Brian has been quietly, but actively involved in the community mentoring several youngsters, coaching youth basketball, teaching Sunday School and participating in other activities at Elim LB Church, serving on the Board of Directors of Clear Waters Life Center (CWLC) being a house parent for Mustard Seed Homes, and volunteering at the Youth Connection (an after school youth program). He has also visited classrooms at the local school on several occasions and shared stories about growing up in Africa.

Brian is an avid sportsman. He has remained very active: playing wheelchair basketball, riding his hand-powered bike, fishing, and hunting, especially deer hunting. Furthermore, with various family members, as well as independently, Brian has continued to enjoy canoeing and camping, even in remote areas, such as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Brian is very independent and active, but the Action Trackchair is going to give him even more freedom and independence. It will allow him to be more active in the outdoors, adding to this hunting, fishing and sporting adventures giving him the necessary mobility in difficult terrain.

A delightful sense of humor and his wonderful storytelling ability entertains and enlightens anyone who gets to know Brian. He is a quiet man that has accepted his injury with grace and dignity, reflecting his unceasing will to serve God and live out his faith.

Darien Northup Operations Executive Director at Clear Waters Life Center was very helpful in getting letters out about the project for Brian. Their goal was to raise money and to have the Action Trackchair by the middle of September as a surprise for Brian. They were able to  get enough donations to make it a reality.

The Action Trackchair was manufactured by Action Sports a company out of Marshall, MN. Owner of that company is Tim Swenson, formerly of Oklee. They helped disabled people have the freedom of mobility to go hunting, hiking, fishing and more. See story inside this week on the Tri County Canary front page.