On Sept. 27, 2024, after finishing hockey practice, 13-year-old Asa joined friends for an e-bike ride along the Lakewalk in Duluth. In an instant, a bump in the path sent Asa crashing into his handlebars and onto the ground. The accident resulted in life-threatening abdominal injuries — including a severed pancreas. Asa was airlifted to Children’s Minnesota, the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma care center dedicated only to kids, where he would receive life-saving treatment for more than 50 days.
Asa’s care journey
Asa’s treatment included 11 procedures and the enrollment in an experimental clinical trial – making Asa one of only 23 kids in the country enrolled. The trial helped him avoid more invasive surgeries that could have ended his dreams of going out on the ice rink again. It would, however, be a difficult, long hospitalization that included prolonged fasting and countless challenges along the way. But Asa was resilient through it all.
“Asa’s rare injury required a dedicated, multi-specialty team to optimize his recovery. I’m deeply grateful for Asa’s remarkable resilience and his family’s unwavering faith in our treatment team as we guided them through his complex recovery process,” shared Nathaniel Kreykes, MD, director of trauma services at Children’s Minnesota.
During Asa’s 54-day stay in the hospital, the wraparound care offered at Children’s Minnesota became a critical part of his family’s journey, providing emotional support and compassion when they needed it most. On Nov. 13, 2025, Asa was honored at the Minnesota Wild Foundation Gala, where a portion of the proceeds benefited Children’s Minnesota’s child and family services program.
“Working with Asa during his recovery was truly inspiring. From the beginning, Asa’s resilience and positivity shone through, even on the toughest days,” said Kharissa Maehren, Asa’s child life specialist. “My goal was to be a consistent support for Asa and his family, someone who could help make his long hospital stay a little brighter. Seeing Asa thriving with his team today is nothing short of amazing.”
Today, Asa is back on the ice, playing hockey with his team, the Duluth East Bantams. His team and coaches recently voted Asa team captain! Because of his experience, Asa has aspirations to go into the medical field.
