‘A nightmare': Teen paralyzed after dirt bike crash keeping the faith during recovery
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Therese Testorf said her son, Christian, and his friend were riding dirt bikes on Memorial Day in Clyde.
'They were just riding around, and he, at one point, took the lead, and it was kind of close to where this ditch was,' Therese said. 'And the second boy, seeing that he was headed for the ditch did try to let him know that it was there was obscured by the grass, but he couldn't hear because of the dirt bike, and he had his helmet on and all of his gear on.'
Christian went into the ditch.
'It was about a maybe eight to 10 foot drainage ditch,' Therese said. 'And [my son's friend] went down and helped him and got his phone, and Christian was able to give him his password to get into his phone, and he called me and my husband, but we didn't answer the phone. So then he called 911, and he gave them like excellent directions. So they were able to get to Christian very quickly with in just a couple minutes.'
Christian was airlifted by first responders to SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. There, he underwent emergency surgery.
'He had broken his spine in the T7 and T8 area, and with a complete transection of his spinal cord,' Therese said. 'So, they did emergency surgery and stabilized him there, and he's just been like recuperating here.'
Therese told News 8 Wednesday when she was able to get ahold of her daughter and first responders, it was terrifying.
'It's just like your life is like panic, and you just fall apart in that moment, trying not to, trying to be strong,' she said. 'The only thing I could think of is I've got to get to my child as soon as possible, you know, because he needs me.'
The unimaginable challenges brought on to the Testorf family, all being received with hope — especially from Chrisitan.
'My son's attitude […] somebody asked him, 'How do you feel?' This is going to change your life.' And he said, 'I'm okay with it. I've accepted it. I know God's with me, so that's what gives me strength,' Therese said. 'And I think that's what could give other people strength in this situation, is knowing that people love you and support you, and most of all, that God is always with you, and He will never leave you or forsake you.'
The family has also received the community's support, after setting up a GiveSendGo, to help with medical expenses for the necessary steps to get Christian into rehabilitation.
'Having people around that are positive and that are helping is amazing,' Therese said. 'It just helps your your mental state, and helps you to be able to continue in this… it's like, basically a nightmare. I've thought about this stuff before this happened, and I was like, 'I don't even know how people do it.' And now that I'm in it, they do it with the help of God and with people surrounding them and supporting them.'
Christian was just weeks away from graduation from Finger Lakes Christian School. With the help of the staff, he will still be able to celebrate that achievement.
'The very first day that after his surgery, his principal came in and he said, 'We want to do a ceremony for him for his graduation. He's got everything he needs. All the ducks are in the row. The district's already approved our plan. […] That's going to be Friday.'
After that, Christian will be headed to Spaulding Rehabilitation in Boston. Therese said everything is moving quickly, but wanted to make sure her son received the best care possible.
'He's young and a strong person,' Therese said. 'They do believe that he's going to be able to live independently, and that it's going to be a good outcome for him. So that's what we're all praying for.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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