Homan still going strong

COLDWATER - After an outpouring of support, Shane Homan's family wants to thank the community and says he is still going strong.

Many in the area likely know the story of 17-year-old Shane Homan, or at least have seen the #ShaneStrong signs in support of the junior in the yards of homes and businesses. Tara Homan, his mother, recounts that on Sept. 1, at about 10:10 a.m. during the junior varsity football game between the Coldwater Cavaliers and St. Marys Roughriders, she watched her son catch the ball and set off running before taking a hard hit.

At first, she feared a concussion. Then she noticed his arms moving while his legs remained in the same position.

"Tears fill my eyes," she wrote in a letter to the newspaper. "Every parent's worst fear … we then hear sirens."

Shane Homan was transported from Cavalier Stadium to Mercer County Community Hospital's emergency room unit and was later transferred by Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was stabilized and prepared for surgery. He had suffered a fracture at his fifth thoracic vertebra, or T5, which is located between the shoulder blades.

Surgeons fused the T3-4 and T6-8 vertebrae with two rods and eight screws. After five days in the trauma unit, Shane Homan was moved to the inpatient rehabilitation unit, where he received physical and occupational therapy for four to six nonconsecutive hours every day and only two hours of therapy on weekends.

After seven weeks, Tara Homan said the family was able to bring him home, with a new ramp installed and a renovated bathroom and bedroom. The upgrades were thanks to the generosity of Schockman Lumber and Palmer Donavin, Steve Schoen, Scott Knapke, Roessner Energy and Keith Homan, Rish Plumbing, Homan Interiors, Shiner Construction, Coldwater Lumber, Kinninger Welding and Home Furniture and Mattress.

"The outpouring (of) support, prayers, donations, fundraisers and sponsorships have been completely overwhelming and very humbling. We truly live in one of the best communities around," Tara Homan wrote. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. We always assume everyone will have your back should a crisis arise. But (not) until you are faced with that crisis do you realize that everyone really DOES have your back. It has renewed our faith in mankind knowing that there are still good people in this world filled with so much controversy."

Though the family's life has been "completely turned upside down," the Homans are adjusting and progressing. Shane Homan is undergoing therapy at Community Sports and Therapy in Celina and is visiting Miami Valley Hospital one day a week to walk in the EKSO exoskeleton.

"It could be a year until we know the full extent of his injury," his mom wrote. "The spinal cord was badly bruised and will take a lot of time to heal. The nervous system is a very complex system and, therefore, one of the slowest to heal. We understand everyone is concerned about Shane and his progress. Trust me, when something new happens, the world will know!"

The family wanted to publicly thank the many people who have helped them and not just monetarily.

The Cavalier football coaching staff, trainer and Shane Homan's teammates saw him off on the Careflight, and their endless visits kept him positive. Coldwater Exempted Village School staff, including athletic director Eric Goodwin, guidance counselor Natalie Kanney, high school principal Jason Hemmelgarn, district superintendent Jason Wood and all his teachers showed terrific patience and cooperation throughout the experience, Tara Homan wrote.

She thanked first responders like those from Coldwater Emergency Medical Services and the staff in the Coldwater ER for their timely response and considerate care. Pastor Steve Stroh of St. Marys kept Shane Homan calm on the field and made several visits to him in the hospital, along with the Revs. Rick Walling and Alexander Witt from Holy Trinity Catholic Church. She also thanked her and her husband Jeff Homan's employers, Versa Pak and Homan Inc., for being so understanding and cooperative during the family's 24 days at Miami Valley Hospital.

Tara Homan credited the students responsible for orchestrating the human shield at Cavalier Stadium with the surrounding schools and Mara Dues and Jacob Wenning for helping to make #ShaneStrong go viral. Communities, football teams, businesses, organizations and anonymous individuals rallied around her son's cause and donated money or held fundraisers for his medical expenses and to help cover the costs of renovation.

Tara Homan thanked God for not letting things be any worse and for giving her family the strength and determination needed to get through the ordeal. She thanked friends, as well as her children's friends, for all the support, visits, well-wishes and prayers.

And finally, she thanked their family.

"Without your support, whether it be from the bazillion visits, hospitality, my venting, rides for Shane, food, cleaning, etcetera, we would not have been able to get through this as 'flawlessly' as we did. And, (thanks) to our other two children, Zach and Maddi, for being so patient and understanding for, unfortunately, getting 'pushed aside' through all of this. Trust me, your stepping-up-to-the-plate to help out has confirmed that we, in fact, did a decent job raising you and teaching you the importance of family."