At just six years old, Nolan Stevenson’s life changed in an instant.

The utility task vehicle he and his parents were riding overturned on the family farm, ejecting Nolan and his father.

Nolan was flown by helicopter to a local hospital and then transferred to Stead Family Children’s Hospital with multiple severe injuries.

“That day, God started a new chapter for our family,” recalls his mother, Justine Brink.

“The first several pages of this chapter were a blur for all of us.”

Nolan endured a 15-hour surgery to repair damage to many parts of his body.

Doctors called it a “polytrauma,” meaning trauma to different body parts and organs.

Nolan’s pelvis was fractured on the right side and completely crushed on the left.

His bladder and other essential areas were reconstructed to keep his body functioning.

Dr. Matthew Karam described Nolan’s polytrauma as a “once every 10 years” type of event.

As a parent, this was almost impossible to comprehend, especially hours after the accident.

Brink knew they would face very difficult decisions in the days, weeks, and months ahead — decisions no parent ever wants to make.

The accident came at a time of joy for the family.

Justine Brink had remarried Adam Brink just days before, after losing Nolan’s father to cancer when Nolan was two years old.

The accident occurred during a beautiful evening as the family prepared for the planting season.

They had taken their UTV out to check the fields when it rolled, ejecting both Nolan and Adam.

Justine found her phone in the overturned vehicle, called 911, and used her shirt as a tourniquet to minimize Nolan’s bleeding.

Nolan was stabilized at the first hospital but required specialized pediatric care for which there was no available urologist, so he was flown to Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Brink was familiar with UI Health Care, where her first husband had received treatment, and felt a mixture of fear and trust as a large care team assembled.

Less than a week after the initial surgery, Nolan’s family faced the hardest decision of their lives.

The damage to his lower extremities was so severe that his left leg had to be amputated below the knee.

A week later, he underwent a hemipelvectomy to remove the left side of his pelvis due to the severity of the injury.

To repair injuries to his skin, Nolan endured 38 daily dressing changes, seven debridement surgeries, and allograft and autograft procedures to transplant donor and his own tissue.

He remained an inpatient for 84 days.

“The compassion and kindness shared with Nolan and our family will forever be remembered,” Justine Brink recalls.

“Nurses cried and held our hands, doctors hugged us, and we cried with the staff.”

During a follow-up visit, Nolan’s parents learned that his case had become known to nearly all residents and pre-med students at the UI Carver College of Medicine.

“We pray that his pain has been put to purpose — to teach, guide, and encourage future healers,” Brink says.

“They provided compassion and warmth throughout Nolan’s stay and follow-ups.”

Adam also underwent surgery on his hip and wrist, and while he returned to farming, the family had to rely on others to help care for livestock.

The family had recently received a bottle calf for Nolan, which he was meant to raise and show in local competitions.

Despite challenges, the calf walked alongside Nolan in his wheelchair, allowing him to participate in competitions that summer.

Nolan returned to school using a wheelchair and has since transitioned to walking with a prosthetic leg.

Now nine years old and in fourth grade, he enjoys golf, boating, swimming, fishing, and life on the farm.

“He would tell everyone that lunch is his favorite subject, but he does love school,” Brink says.

She and Adam admire Nolan’s ability to make people laugh and adapt to challenges with courage.

In August 2025, during the Iowa Hawkeye football team’s annual Kids Day, Nolan enjoyed unforgettable moments.

He met players, collected autographs, and even walked out of the Kinnick Stadium tunnel with the team as they performed “The Swarm,” a cherished pre-game tradition symbolizing unity and team spirit.

Nolan continues to see his care team regularly, experiencing both physical and emotional healing, while inspiring everyone who meets him with his resilience, strength, and joyful spirit.