The 2022 Murph Challenge Day 13: Cayden Karels
Life can change in an instant.
Rewind to March 19, 2022 when a snowboarding accident drastically changed today’s dedications life. He fractured and shattered his spinal cord from C1-C7 and stretched and tore ligaments surrounding it. The neurosurgeon had to preform a C6 corpectomy and a frontal spinal fusion from C5-C7. Today’s fighter was lucky to be alive and not paralyzed.
Less than two months later, Cayden underwent his second surgery to perform a C4-C6 fusion. Then on June 10th, 2022, MRI and X-rays revealed increased spinal cord damage found from the accident as his repaired C6 is pressing on his spinal cord.
Cayden’s dad, Nick, had this to say about his son, “Cayden’s attitude and faith during this time has been incredible and such an inspiration for me. Cayden asked questions about snowboarding, football, etc. and the response was tough, yet he held his head up high and found the positives immediately.”
Cayden’s a young man that knows he beat the odds, he already surpassed many of the the expectations of what you should be able to do. His injury doesn’t define him, athletics doesn’t define him, God has big things ahead for him. He knows there’s going to be hard days, frustrating days, and days where he wishes it was all a bad dream.
There’s a verse that stuck out to me on my final mile push in your honor today:
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Cayden, you’re going to soar way higher than this epic snowboarding pic. God has big plans for you and your strong faith and trust in Him will far exceed any identity the world or you can come up with. You have so much strength, faith, courage, and grit. You have amazing parents and family/friends around you to support you along the way. We want you to know you’re just getting started on the impact your going to make in this world.
Every Day We Fight is honored to dedicate Day 13 of 32 to Cayden Karels! You’re an incredible fighter that inspires us all.
Murph: 28:56
When I did the Murph Challenge for the first time I became hooked. Not because it was fun but because it was painful, challenging, and meaningful.
These 31 challenges are a dedication to a fighter, a warrior, a person battling that’s an everyday hero.
– Tate Wheeler
“The Murph Challenge is more than just a workout. It is a tradition that helps push us, humble us, and allows us the opportunity to dedicate a bit of pain and sweat to honor, LT. Michael P. Murphy, a man who sacrificed everything he had for our freedom.”
-Murph Website