Mother of paralyzed son talks about life after son's accident

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The mother of a paralyzed son, who is a student at Northrop High School, has spent the.   Sandy Barbknecht's son, Noah, became paralyzed from the breast bone down, after a skiing accident on Christmas Eve .

Noah, along with his parents and his brother were all with him when the accident happened.

"He went up on his own, and he didn't come back," said Sandy Barbknecht, who explained how her son was injured."

She said medics found Noah before any relatives did.  While the family was waiting inside the medical facility at the ski hill, she didn't think Noah's injuries would be that bad, and was surprised to hear differently from the doctor.

"He said he would do what he could, but Noah would never walk again," she said, as she wiped away tears.  "I pretty much collapsed.  I never imagined it would be that bad."

Since her son's accident, Barbknecht has spent most of her time with her son.  Noah was being cared for at the Albany Medical Center Children's Hospital in New York until recently, when he was moved to the Shepherd Center, a facility for spinal cord rehabilitation, in Atlanta.

News of Noah's injuries spread quickly.

"It's amazing all the prayers and all the well wishes," Sandy Barbknecht said, while looking at a Facebook page that follows Noah's progress.  "All the, 'Noah inspired me in my own situation,' just those kind of stories, just makes you feel like you have all these arms wrapping you and giving you a big hug."

Even though she's no longer by his side, Sandy still gets to talk to her son over the internet.  The two video chatted Saturday morning.  Noah told NewsChannel 15 he's looking forward to being back in his own home, but Sandy said she believes the family's home will need some modifications.  Otherwise, the family will move into a home already designed to help Noah.

"We need to have first floor laundry," she said.  "He's done his laundry since he was eight.  Our laundry's upstairs right now.  I'd hate to have a whole upstairs level he can't use.  If there's some way to at least bring him home for a while, and make it work, I think that'd be better."

Sandy said she realized the house may not sell for quite some time, but has had several businesses and contractors offer to build any modifications the home needs to help the family. 

On Saturday, Sandy Barbknecht was looking at homes that she thought would fit her son and her family well.

A benefit for Noah and his family will take place Saturday, February 9 at Ceruti's Summit Park.

As of Saturday, Noah's fundraising website had raised $7,895. The goal is to raise $50,000 to cover Noah's medical costs.

To donate money or send your thoughts of encouragement to Noah, visit his Facebook page .