While the road to recovery remains long for a Pella Christian standout cross country and track athlete following a devastating injury this past summer, he reached an important milestone this past week.

Ryan Natelborg has now returned to live with his family in Prairie City after several months of physical therapy at Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Natelborg was paralyzed in a swimming accident in late July and hasn’t been back in Iowa since — with initial surgeries taking place in Wisconsin before he was transferred to the facility in Colorado.

Natelborg was greeted by his Pella Christian cross country teammates, as well as many friends and neighbors from Pella and Prairie City this past week both at his home and at a fundraising soup supper.

“Ever since I’ve been home, there was just a ton a people to greet me — people from Pella and in [Prairie City],” Natelborg says. “It was just so welcoming and I was so happy to see all of my friends again.”

Ryan is thankful for the widespread support he’s received over the past few months, and is hopeful to reach more milestones now that he’s back on his home turf.

“I’m just trying towards independence each day,” he says. “Those people who are further out from their injury are out there living these great lives, and a lot that just comes with time and strength, and so I’m working towards that each day, and also trying to have fun with my friends.”

He was first featured following the incident on KNIA/KRLS back in September as part of the Football Friday Night Radio Preview Show. Ryan was able to stay in contact with his team, who all said they were inspired by Natelborg’s approach to recovery on their way to qualifying both the Eagles’ boys and girls in the Class 2A state meet and outperforming their pre-meet rankings in Fort Dodge.

Ryan will get to spend Christmas at home with his whole family this weekend. Tune into the Year in Review Radio Sports Page next week to hear the latest on the journey of Eagles Warrior Ryan Natelborg, which airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m. on 92.1 KRLS.