In addition to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer, another life and another family that was changed forever on March 15 is that of Casey Blanchard, his wife and two children.

Blanchard has been in the same University of Utah Health Hospital as Palmer, and his wife Leah will be driving him home from Salt Lake City on Saturday morning.

Deputy Communications Director for Attorney General Tim Fox, Anastasia Burton, described Blanchard’s wounds from the shooting that occurred just off Airway Boulevard.

“Sadly, Casey is now a paraplegic and he does have other limitations,” said Burton. “As you know, Casey was shot eight times, so really, it’s just a miracle that he is still alive. He was shot in his left arm, the right chest, his spine, his abdomen and both legs. Looking for a ray of hope for his prognosis, it has been determined that over time the feeling in his left hand will return and possibly some improvement in his shoulder blade will occur. I just salute Casey and Leah for their positivity in trying to focus on what might be brighter for them in the days ahead.”

Burton said the family is asking that the public continue to pray for them, and that they are grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement from their Stevensville community, as well as from the law enforcement officers that visited Casey in his hospital room right across from Wade Palmer in Salt Lake City.

Button said a definite timeline of when the Blanchard’s might arrive in Missoula and then in Stevensville has not been set, but she will provide that information early Saturday morning when Casey is officially released from the hospital.

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