Lynn Armstrong rushed out of the house in her pajamas aand arrived at the lodge 20 minutes later as paramedics were preparing Tracy Armstrong for the flight to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center via medical helicopter.

"I can't imagine what this is going to take for her to care for him for the rest of his life," Beckstead said. "But she doesn't care as long as she has him. His family is so glad he's here; they'll take him however they can get him."

The worries keep mounting, however. The Armstrongs live in Panguitch, a three-hour drive from Provo, and Lynn can only stay in the hospital's guest cottage until Sunday.

The kids are at home with grandma, but she can't stay there for two months — the minimum time doctors think Tracy will be in the hospital.

So family members are rushing to find an apartment they can lease for two months for Lynn, but they're striking out, Beckstead said.

Huge bills are also looming, not just for the medical care now but for a wheelchair, home remodeling and future medical costs. And Tracy, the former breadwinner, will probably never work again.

Family members have set up a trust fund through Zions Bank, and donations can be made in Tracy Armstrong's name at any branch.

The Armstrongs have nine children — two 3-year-olds, two 6-year-olds, and children ages 8, 14, 16, 20 and 22.

"I think (Tracy's) struggling with being a burden on his family," Beckstead said. "He's trying to do everything that he can (in rehab). If they tell him he needs to do something, he's all over it."

The Armstrongs are grateful for the community support and have chosen not to be bitter, family members say.

"They don't want anybody being vengeful," Wilson said. "It was just somebody ... who wasn't quite all there. (He) obviously had some mental problems to be able to do something like that."

And Beckstead said they are encouraged by Tracy's good attitude.

"The only thing I've ever heard him say to his kids is 'We don't understand why, we don't have to understand why today,'" she said of his comments. "'We just live our lives and work on getting better.'"

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com