Trenton Bass broke his neck in a 2017 high school football game, leaving him a quadriplegic, but the 2018 Hills-Beaver Creek High School graduate said he’s mentally stronger today than he was before the injury.
The 22-year-old said he focuses mental energies to inspire others to move forward with their lives as he has done.
Bass, along with friends Luke LaRock and Easton Harnack, spoke with 275 students and adults at the annual Rock the Edge prayer breakfast at Luverne High School. Forty student athletes from H-BC were among those attending the event.
Dan LaRock, Luke’s father, also of Hills, who facilitated the event, directed the three young men to share their faith journeys since Bass’ injury five years ago.
Their message — take life one day at a time and live with faith in God — has led them to happier and more productive lives, they said.
Luke LaRock said the weeks after Bass’ injury had the most impact on his faith.
“Trenton was on my mind a lot, especially when he flew out to Craig (a rehabilitation hospital in Englewood, Colorado),” said LaRock, who was a junior in 2017.
“I was just trying to imagine myself going into my senior year of high school and instead going to Colorado for three months to learn ‘to do my life.’ I just remember that I was so proud of him.”
Both LaRock and Harnack visited Bass in the hospital, even making a trip to Colorado.
Harnack’s faith grew as he watched his friend take the small steps to relearn how to eat, brush his teeth and dress himself, which progressed to Bass returning to high school in the spring of 2018 and receiving his high school diploma with his classmates.
“His mindset from Day 1 has been, day by day, to have a good day that day, because tomorrow will take care of itself,” Harnack said.
“You’re not going to have a great day every day. There are times when life is going to get tough.”
Bass said during the last five years it was easy to get frustrated at the small things he couldn’t do, like pick a pizza box up off the floor. Instead, he thinks more positively, especially for the little things.
“I was blessed to have a positive attitude through all of this and God really spoke to me — that is not the case for a lot of people,” he said. “I would encourage them to take a step with their faith and take it one day at a time, kind of like I did.”
Bass’ parents, Missy and Jeff, along with Heather and Aaron Erickson, also of Hills, began Game Plan 4 Hope shortly after Trenton’s injury. The Team E’s Fieldhouse of Hope recently opened in Hills with a 24-hour fitness center. Strength training helped Bass gain his independence.
Bass also volunteers with Game Plan 4 Hope as the organization reaches families going through life-altering events and offers support and comfort.
“I’ve helped out a handful of times by reaching out to people who have had very similar injury and are dealing with the whole ‘hospital life,’” Bass said. “The daunting task of hospital visits, rehab and what it’s like.”
Bass’ hard work has paid off in that he leads a productive life, much like he planned as a high school senior.
He recently graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings with a degree in mechanical engineering. He’s learned to drive and works for Raven Industries in Sioux Falls.
Bass lives at home with his parents in Hills due to the tight housing market, while LaRock and Harnack, who graduated from H-BC in 2019 and 2020 respectively, are still college students.
Their friendship and open discussion of faith is encouraged by Rock the Edge organizations.
Adult leader Jessica Blocker, Director of Christian Education at St. John Lutheran Church, Luverne, provided the closing words for the Thursday morning prayer breakfast and Trenton’s faith story.
“The strengthening of your faith and sharing the faith with your friends with you — doesn’t have to take a tragedy to do so.”
About Rock the Edge
Rock the Edge is a group of youth leaders and teenagers from Rock County that strive to bring Christian youth together for service and fellowship.
Several Rock the Edge events are scheduled this fall. Reach out to organizers at rocktheedgemn@gmail.com for more information.