![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
As many know and love, Tommy Shine is a local Wentzville fire captain who has a film written on his selfless and courageous spirit called “Breakthrough.” That film was based on the experience when he saved three teenage boys who fell through a frozen ice in a lake in 2015.
On Oct. 17, Tommy faced yet another crucially rare experience. He fell from a ladder and ended up finding a bulge in the wall of his body’s main artery, called the aorta. This is a medical condition called aortic aneurysm. This was shocking to him and his family.
Tommy had to go into surgery about two months later on Dec. 18. Later that evening, he went into arrest. Tommy is a father of five beautiful children who all depend on him in many different ways.
“He’s the center and the whole heart of our family. He’s my business partner. He’s our hero. Nothing about this is even remotely comfortable for our family,” Tommy’s wife, Brittany Shine said.
The last two months have been difficult for the Shine family, but while there’ve been many setbacks, Tommy has been extra strong.
On Jan. 3, his family got devastating news. The doctor said he would never be able to speak or comprehend and would likely never walk or have any strength in his upper body, along with a low functioning brain capacity.
Two nights later Tommy’s wife, Brittany, explains how she ”laid my head on his stomach the entire night holding and talking to him” and as this was occurring she goes into detail on how he kept his eyes open that whole night.
“I knew he had something to say,” Brittany said. Three days later, moments before the nurses and doctors were preparing Tommy to be removed from his comfort care, a miracle happened. Tommy began speaking. The doctors were amazed and believed Tommy needed postponement to discern how much brain function he actually has.
Days after Tommy continued growing more. He was taking labs again, feeding again and having more testing. While his road to recovery has been far from simple, he’s been extremely strong and has had such a loving family to help him every step through.
Tommy’s wife, Brittany created a community prayer shared across Facebook which she and her family pray each night and welcomed everyone to pray it as well. Many homes across the county have also been stringing red lights upon their homes for awareness of Tommy Shine. It’s truly comforting to know that Tommy has an amazing support system and to know God is with him always.
This story was originally published on LHStoday on January 24, 2025.
