Life Recast Through Determination
Scobey MT
Photography by Stu Hoefle
DuWayne Wilson’s hands are calloused, and his grip firm when he shakes hands, both signify a hard-working outdoorsman.
Along with his wife, Carrie, the third-generation Montanan farms and ranches outside of Scobey. Except for college and his first teaching job, DuWayne has lived his entire life in the area and he and Carrie raised three boys on the ranch.
DuWayne and Carrie are a strong couple, grounded by faith, loved and admired in their close-knit community, and respected and cherished by their boys and families. They are the kind of neighbors everyone wants; generous, kind, helpful, and always encouraging.
Seven years ago, they became the grateful recipients of those same character traits. While working his team of mules, DuWayne was thrown from a wagon, landing on his head. He suffered a spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the chest down.
“I remember thinking, shortly after I was hurt, what’s going to happen to the place and to my family? How’s Carrie going to manage? Will I ever be able to do anything again?” DuWayne recalled.
“Faith may move mountains, but you better wear your work boots and carry a shovel.”
He was flown from Scobey to Billings, then to Denver where he had surgery to stabilize his spine before enduring three months of rehabilitation to build the strength required to return home. At Denver’s Craig Hospital, DuWayne’s determination allowed for a release far sooner than expected.
The first spring after his accident, neighbors rallied to plant his crops for the year. His sons stepped up to help and Carrie began planning for the necessary home adaptations.
“It was hard,” Carrie said. “DuWayne was hospitalized for three months, and I was back and forth, but we took every day as it came. You just do what you have to do and keep moving forward.”
Faith kept the couple going, particularly when prayers for miraculous recovery were only answered with the strength to get through another day.
“Faith may move mountains, but you better wear your work boots and carry a shovel,” DuWayne said.
That hard-working, hopeful attitude serves him today and his disability doesn’t hold him back. DuWayne has full motion in his arms and shoulders, though he does suffer from periodic numbness in one arm. His upper body strength, built through his lifestyle before the injury, has allowed him to use a variety of adaptive equipment and continue his involvement on the ranch and in the community.
His career as an ag teacher began in Sheridan, Montana, where he taught for eight years. Returning to his roots, the next 17 years were spent teaching in Wolf Point with a 63-mile commute to and from the ranch each day. Carrie worked at Nemont for 29 years and both are now fully retired from their “town careers.”
Carrie occupies her time with grandchildren, a massive garden, and quilting projects for friends and family while DuWayne stays active helping his son in the day-to-day operation of farming and caring for livestock. He’s also busy volunteering at their church and serving on the boards of numerous organizations. Recently, he and Carrie installed the sprinkler system at their new home. His grandchildren often ride on his lap as he maneuvers around the house.
“I’ve even changed a diaper or two,” he said with a smile.
“He doesn’t let much stop him,” Carrie said. “Sometimes I wish he would.”
Several vehicles have been adapted with hand controls for DuWayne to drive. He does much of the swathing and raking and has driven across the state by himself. The driver’s seat of the ranch pickup is mobile to assist getting in and there is a lift on the pickup bed which allows him to climb on the seat of a tractor and his swather. The lift saves him from pulling himself into vehicles using just his upper body.
“My arms and shoulders have become my legs, and they weren’t designed to be that, so I have to really take care of them and make sure I don’t do damage,” he said. “But if you don’t push yourself, you’re never going to know what you can do.”
With that in mind, he’s been able to check the oil on the tractor, put liquid in the radiator and, he claims, he can even hang Christmas lights. DuWayne’s positivity is recognized statewide as he’s become a mentor to other disabled people in the agricultural industry. The Montana-based Cutting Fences Foundation has connected with DuWayne several times, both to assist him and to tap into his expertise to help others. DuWayne was the first podcast guest when the nonprofit launched two years ago, and the Foundation assisted him in choosing and purchasing the best adaptive equipment for his needs. He recently borrowed Cutting Fences’ Freedom Trax unit, a unique piece of equipment on which a wheelchair is mounted on tracks, enabling one to traverse rough terrain.
“Everybody faces adversity,” DuWayne said. “Adversity is a challenge, but you don’t have to let it defeat you. I believe I am uniquely qualified to live my life as a paraplegic and that I was being prepared for this my entire life.”
“He’s never been mad that it happened to him,” Carrie added. “He’s accepted that this is the life we’ve been dealt, and we’ll deal with it. He stays positive by encouraging those around him.”
They credit their adaptability to their faith, DuWayne’s physical strength, and their supportive family and community.
Two years ago, DuWayne and Carrie built a home just down the road from the ranch headquarters where their son, Chance and his family now live. The new construction was designed by Carrie with DuWayne’s needs in mind.
“After living in our old home with DuWayne’s disability, I knew what was needed to make life easier for both of us,” she explained.
Their new hoe is one level and includes wide hallways, a bathroom specifically designed for DuWayne, a ramp to the back door, and lower kitchen countertops with the microwave and coffee maker at waist level. Pocket doors throughout maximize the floor space and the bare wood floors allow for ease of mobility. Large windows and a covered deck offer a view of the valley and stunning sunsets.
Having both graduated from Montana State University, DuWayne and Carrie are avid Cat fans and rarely miss a home Bobcat football game, tailgating with friends before the game and enjoying an occasional night away from home.
“I don’t know what I’d do without Carrie,” DuWayne said. “She’s amazing. As hard as this has been for me, I think it’s been harder for her. She’s a saint for being beside me through all of this.”
Though the dynamics of DuWayne and Carrie’s life have drastically changed, their resolve to face the future with positivity and faith in God has given them the strength to push on with grateful hearts.
“It’s not what we don’t have, it’s what we do have,” Carrie concluded. “We’re blessed with community, family and friends and God takes care of us.”