1. everybody that supported us, and
not only the swimming parents that
went out of their way for us. There
weresomanyotherpeoplethatwere
there just as helping hands: people
that made dinner for us, the people
who did so many things to help,
things that may have seemed small
atthetimebutmeanttheworldtous.
Even just a phone call or a message
onsocialmedia,thosekeptusgoing,
andcertainlythestrengthofourboys
is what really got us through."
Majettes lock up 2nd
straight championship
Months removed from his last
decent night's sleep, Hinton was
admittedly exhausted as his Ma-
jettes began preparation for the
season's final stretch.
On Nov. 5 - two days after the
lowing the release of his son, Davis,
in mid-October.
WithBurkeinneedoffurtherhos-
pitalization, the Hintons were sud-
denly split between two locations -
their home, and the hospital - for a
month-long balancing act.
"That made it much more chal-
lenging," Hinton said. "Once he came
home, it was great to have one of the
little guys home, but then we had an-
otherkindofnormaltogetusedto.We
hadababyathomeandanotherbaby
in the NICU, so one of us had to stay
home,oneofushadtogototheNICU
to watch over the other one, hold the
other one, feed the other one. It kind
of put a strain on life in general, and
then when you add swimming into
the mix - which is something I've al-
waysbeenverypassionateabout,and
those girls are certainly a part of my
family - that's when it all really hits
you, and it wears you out."
Thankfully for him, the Minot
High community had his back.
Enduring a daily struggle for nor-
malcy, the Hintons welcomed any
gesture of kindness with appreciation
and graditude.
"Ithinkthemainthingyouwantis
fortheemployeeorcoachtoknowthat
they're supported, that they shouldn't
have to worry about too many differ-
ent things," said Mitch Lunde, Minot's
second-year activities director. "We
wantthemtotakecareofthingsonthe
personal side first, and we'll try and
takecareofsomeoftheotherthingson
ourend."
Said Hinton: "I just want to thank
Family
Continued from Page 2
Joe Mellenbruch/MDN
The Minot girls swimming and diving team celebrates after winning its second consecutive state championship.
See FAMILY — Page 23
HOME of CHAMPIONS April 8, 2015Page 22