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Austen Robert Martell

Austen was a bright, lovable, charismatic young man. Before he died he was an avid football player, his positions were running back and linebacker. He was an awesome wrestler who made it to state twice. It was so cool watching him, he was a definite natural at it. It was like he had been doing it all his life. Once he started it he was hooked and that was his life in high school besides girls and football.

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In August of his junior year, Austen was in a terrible car accident on his way to work. He was in a coma for two weeks, which was touch and go everyday whether he was going to remember us when he woke up. They had him in his coma for that long to help with the swelling on his brain, but once he woke up and knew who we all were (that was such a relief) he had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, and just be himself all over again.

It was a very long road to recovery for him, a lot of confusion and frustration on his part. But he did his best everyday, and did an amazing job getting back to his old self. With his traumatic brain injury he received after his accident, he was never really the same. That was something that he struggled with everyday of his recovery. It was very hard for him because his friends just didn't quite understand that he was different. As his parents and siblings that was very hard to watch him struggle everyday to just be him. With his TBI he was very spontaneous, he would shout things to anyone that most people would just think to themselves in their heads. Then a few minutes later realize he said something bad and be very remorseful after the fact. 

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There were many times we had told him he was going to say or do something he was not able to take back or come back from. On May 19, 2013 he did just that. Austen lost his life due to suicide that day. As his parent, there is always the what ifs, or the wish I could haves, but now we are trying to make something good come out of this tragic event that forever changed our lives.

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Putting on the Austen Martell Mud Bog and Tough Truck Race every may in memory of him, is our way of making sure his story does not end. We help raise awareness, education, and just a safe place to talk about suicide. Our goal is to raise money for the Out of the Darkness Walks, and to hopefully help one family or person not have to go through the tragedy of losing a loved one to suicide.

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Austen left behind a beautiful son, Brodee, who is the total image of his dad. He acts like him and also has the same smirk that Austen always had when he was up to no good. He also had a twin sister Ayla and an older brother Gage. 

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To say that we will all miss this dude is a major understatement. We think about him everyday. We miss him so so much, Austen we love you to the moon and back.

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