By Patrick Tepoorten

Friends of Steve Litzkow would be surprised to see him looking hardly the worse for wear. Of course, looks are deceiving in this case. As soon as he gets up from the kitchen table, the stiffness and soreness resultant of his injuries become readily apparent. Still, looking at Litzkow, things appear just about back to normal.

That is no small thing considering it was only three weeks ago that he was thrown from his horse and buggy in a hit-and-run that put him in the hospital with cracked ribs, cracked vertebrae, and lacerations. To add insult to injury, Litzkowís long-time equine companion, Star, was killed further up the road when she tried to cross Hwy. 8 and was struck repeatedly.

Despite the loss of his horse, Litzkow sees the outcome of the crash and his survival as a ìtrue miracle.î After all, he was struck from behind at approximately 50 mph, a collision that turned his buggy into matchsticks. He believes he was thrown a great distance before slamming back to earth, but isnít really sure how high or how far.

He does know that, in one of those freak occurrences that sometimes happen in violent collisions, he still had his trademark cowboy hat on after he hit the ground.

Another miracle, according to Litzkow, is that his friend Jack Boucher was not in the buggy at the time of the accident. Boucher had agreed to help Litzkow with the horse before and after the parade, and had intended to ride along with Litzkow back to St. Croix Falls. It was decided at the last minute that it wouldnít be necessary. But Litzkow, who has been going over the expected ìwhat ifísî since the accident, doesnít like to consider what could have happened had Boucher been along for the ride.

Donations to the Steve Litzkow fund have been arriving steadily. Steve and Sherilyn did not wish to disclose the amount that has been raised, and though it is not yet enough to replace Star, they are at least part of the way there.

A couple in Hastings has donated a top-of-the-line Amish style buggy. It has two seats and extra storage capacity. It is, as the couple told Litzkow, the ìCadillacî of Amish transportation.

Of course, the Litzkows are also overwhelmed with food, but Sherilyn doesnít mind at all. ìI havenít even had time to think about cooking,î she said. Over the last few weeks there have been numerous trips to the Twin Cities, including one on Wednesday to get squared away with the VA office, and coming home and not having to prepare meals has been a great relief.

People have also been showing up to take care of the chores the Litzkows are unable to do during these early stages of their ordeal. The driveway will get plowed free of charge for the duration, the horse-barn, which houses the Litzkowsí three other horses, is getting cleaned on a pretty regular basis.

Still, Litzkow is looking at a hard road back over the next few months and the chores arenít going away. His Belarus tractor needs a transmission fluid change to keep it running free over the winter, and the barn needs regular cleaning. Sherilyn is self-employed and is juggling the need to work and the commuting necessary to keep Steve on the road to recovery.

If there are people out there wondering what they can do to help, those areas would be a great place to start.

In addition to help around the house; friends, family, and even complete strangers have sent well over one-hundred get well cards to the Litzkows. Some contain money, some well wishes, and some the promise of prayers. Steve and Sherilyn are overwhelmed by that outpouring.

ìYou know, living out here, being disabled, and having a different lifestyle, you feel kind of invisible,î said Steve, who has since learned that he is anything but.

In fact, Litzkow and his buggy have been an institution in St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls for years. Long before people might have the privilege of meeting the Litzkows, they know Steve as ìthe horse and buggy guy.î He is, even, a part of the ambiance of the St. Croix River Valley. Interestingly enough though, Steve had no idea about that until now.

But, if it did escape his attention before, the lesson he has received regarding his value to the community is an obviously moving one. ìYou donít realize how much of an impact it can have,î said Litzkow regarding the presence of his horse and buggy on the streets of western Polk County and eastern Chisago County. ìIím finding out now how unique it is and how much people are attached to it.î
The Litzkows are determined to repay the kindness shown to them in some way, and Steve thinks he has the perfect solution.
Although the accident and his injuries have placed additional financial strains on the family, and it would be an easy thing to use some of that money to pay a bill or fill up the car, Litzkow insists that doing so would not be right. Instead, he intends that all donations be used to replace Star.

ìI want to use this money as a memory,î he said. ìSo that when the people who donated this money see the horse, they will know they were a part of it.î

For the Litzkows, the tragedy is a bittersweet experience. And, while they have been dealing with the bitter of loss and recovery, it is the sweet of learning the depth of caring a community has shown for one of its own that now begins to characterize the event.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com