Never give up, always keep hope, help is out there.

That is what the past two years have taught 91原创鈥檚 Rutz family.

Two years ago today (Sept. 27) while competing in a sprint car race at the Terra Haute Action Track in Indiana, a racer had engine problems and the car stopped in the middle of the track.

It happened so quickly that Travis Rutz and another driver were both unable to manoeuver out of the way and hit the vehicle.

The collision left Travis with serious head injuries, including a ruptured artery behind his eye.

His father Doug, who was sitting in the stands, had seen Travis in crashes before, and this one didn鈥檛 look as bad as some of the others.

Travis had raced since age seven, starting with the 91原创 Quarter Midget Association and worked his way up to sprint cars. All indications were that he had a bright future in the sport.

But this accident proved to be catastrophic.

Travis spent a month in a medically-induced coma at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. And while the initial prognosis looked grim 鈥� doctors told the family Travis would never recognize them or know who they were 鈥� he has shown marked improvement.

鈥淚t is very clear Travis is cognitively sharper than us sometimes,鈥� said his mom Kathy.

鈥淭he words are in his head, it鈥檚 just trying to get them out of his mouth.

鈥淏ut they are coming.鈥�

After a month, Travis was airlifted from Indianapolis to 91原创 Memorial Hospital.

He would have to be stronger before he could enter the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver.

But through word of mouth, the family heard about the Halvar Johnson Centre for Brain Injury, an inpatient rehabilitation centre in Ponoka, Alta.

Doug took the family鈥檚 trailer and lived in Ponoka for the next 13 months.

Doug was searching for a warehouse nearby where he could park and make a home, and by chance, he found one with a 91原创 connection. The warehouse was owned by Rick Bath, the owner of Surrey Cedar Ltd., and he generously donated its use.

鈥淭he community has just been amazing,鈥� Doug said. 鈥淲ithout them it would have been so much harder.鈥�

While it was hard to be separated as a family 鈥� younger brother Kenny, 19, also ended up going to Ponoka, while Kathy kept her job at 91原创 Memorial Hospital 鈥� it was well worth the sacrifice.

Last month, the family brought Travis back home to 91原创.

They spent $100,000 on renovations, making their house wheelchair accessible, widening doorways, and adding lifts and rehabilitation equipment to aid  Travis鈥� recovery.

They also have a specially designed van which allows them to take Travis out of the house.

The 23-year-old is in a wheelchair, doesn鈥檛 have full use of his arms, and uses a spelling board to communicate with family.

His memory is sharp and his sense of humour has returned.

But the most important thing is that he continues to defy the odds and show improvement.

And while the family would love for a facility like the Halvar Johnson Centre to exist in B.C. 鈥� they call brain injuries the 鈥渘ew kid on the block鈥� compared to cancer and spinal injury research 鈥� they want others to know that help is out there, but also that they must be willing to put in the work.

鈥淲e want people to know this place is there, there is a place for them to go,鈥� Doug said.

鈥淚t is not like some magical place where they rub you on the head and you get better.

鈥淚t is all about going there and working hard.鈥�

Now that he is back home 鈥� they chose against putting Travis in a residential care facility 鈥� the family continues to help him in his rehab.

Friends and family are always stopping by to visit, and many of them have tattooed 鈥楤TP鈥�, short for Bring the Pain, Travis鈥� racing motto.

Doug quit his job and is his primary caregiver.

Twice a week they do acupuncture, and once a week they attend a private swimming facility on Fraser Highway.

The swimming, which costs $100 per session, is now being paid for by the Ministry of Health.

Travis also had 40 sessions in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, something the family says they will likely do again.

鈥淭he problem with our situation is if you think anything will work, you will try it,鈥� admitted Doug, warning that this can quickly lead to a family burning through all their funds.

鈥淭he first year, if they had told us to stand on our heads, we would have, we were at that point,鈥� Kathy added.

And the parents know Travis is on the road to recovery.

鈥淲e are blessed, we were able to bring him home,鈥� Kathy said.

鈥淭he best part of my day is coming home from work and he is here.鈥�

But through it all, Travis continues on his road to recovery.

Kathy said that he spelled out to one of his doctors that she was going to help him walk and talk again.

For more on Travis, visit www.travisrutz.com.