Faith continues to lead couple into future after shooting

This July, Karyl and Mike Hutchinson of Chappell, Neb., will celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary. Their marriage has been hinged on God from early on, but never had Jesus been more present in the Hutchinson’s marriage than on, and days since, December 3, 2015 when Mike was shot on the job as a sheriff’s deputy. 

While assisting three other officers in serving an arrest warrant in Big Springs, Neb., the suspect, Neil Stretesky, ambushed Mike from behind. 

Stretesky proceeded to shoot Mike four times. They were wounds that have changed his life, as well as his family’s lives, forever.

Mike survived that day, but not without extensive damage to his body, including to his lower left torso, under each arm and his left upper hamstring. One bullet fractured his pelvis, his spleen had to be removed, his kidneys were permanently damaged, part of his stomach and intestines had to be removed, and his liver was damaged. It goes without saying that Mike suffers from pain nearly every day. 

“I take Tylenol and I have learned to adjust my activity,” he said. “I try to do more activities in the morning, because as the day goes on, my pain gets worse.”

Marriage Rooted in Faith

From early on in the couples’ marriage, God was important to the Hutchinsons. Karyl had a grandmother who helped lead her to Christ, while Mike had a Sargent early on in his law enforcement career minister to him and helped him to seal his faith. 

After meeting on a blind date, and throughout their three-month whirlwind courtship, the couple talked about their faith and Karyl invited Mike to church. 

As the couple began married life together, having three children and moving several times for Mike’s law enforcement career, Karyl took the lead in making sure the children went to church, but the entire family’s faith remained strong. Mike would even be known to minister to those he had arrested while taking them to jail. Mike attributes his faith to helping him deal with the gritty, brutal and sometimes emotional life of law enforcement. 

“I know a lot of other guys who have turned to drugs and alcohol to cope when they have a problem,” he said. “I have never felt a pull towards that stuff because of my faith.”

The Hutchinson’s faith helped to pull them through the days and months after Mike was shot. Shortly after arriving at Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, where Mike was transferred to from the Ogallala Community Hospital in Ogallala for emergency surgery, Karyl placed a hand-written note with Hebrews 13:5-6 over his bed. The verse stated this, “…’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’

“I wanted the Word over him,” Karyl said. 

The couple also believes that the prayers of others was also a key component of Mike’s miraculous comeback. Prayer requests were put out instantly by Mike’s friends, family and church. The doctors, nurses and paramedics that initially cared for Mike prayed for him. When they got to Colorado, the Director of Homeland Security based out of Denver called Karyl and said he had sent out a prayer request to more than 60,000 Homeland Security personnel. Prayer covered the Hutchinsons.

“We relied on those prayers during those days after the shooting and the outcome was just overwhelming,” Karyl said. 

For three months, Karyl stayed by Mike’s side, sleeping in the recliner in his hospital room. After 11 weeks, and many surgeries, Mike was allowed to go home to a hero’s welcome on February 22, 2016. 

Things are not as they were before Mike got shot. He has not been able to go back to work, and is very limited in what he can do physically. Mike has physical therapy every day, which helps some. 

“I’m not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds,” he said. “I used to be able to go hunting by myself, now I need someone with me to help me. Things like that can be frustrating.”

Another challenge that the couple faced soon after he returned home was the fact that he lost his county health insurance. Because of Mike’s situation, State Sen. Lynne Walz introduced Legislative Bill 444, which would prevent cities and counties from canceling health insurance coverage for injured law enforcement officers who suffered serious bodily injury from an assault. The bill passed in January 2017. 

A Stronger Faith, Love and Learning How to Forgive

Mike is not bitter about the shooting, but does work daily to maintain this attitude and not become angry. He also struggles daily to forgive the man who shot him, and also to forgive those who were involved with him losing his health insurance.

“I read the Bible a lot and Biblical books,” he said. “I just take it all to God daily.”

Since the accident, the couple has grown closer together and closer to God. 

“It has strengthened our marriage,” Karyl said. “You realize the little things don’t matter when something major happens. It really helps you to realign your perspective.” 

The couple firmly believes that God has a purpose for the shooting, and they anticipate daily for God to show them what that purpose is. 

“I feel like I am alive and here today because God has something else planned for me,” Mike said. “I feel like He wants us to take this experience and use it to help others. Right now we are just letting God direct us in where He wants us to go.”