On Friday, just after school let out, one of my tenth graders tried to do a backflip in the hallway. He was not successful. His neck was broken in two places. By a true miracle, the bones that should have broken and cut off his airway were flicked back into place when his head bounced.
He should have died.
As it is, he is lying in intensive care, scheduled for surgery today, with no feeling from the neck down. He cannot make sounds, but is awake, alert, and mouthing words. He was able to move a hand, although he could not feel himself doing so, or the sensation of his sister holding that hand.
On Saturday about fifty students showed up to visit him. When his sister told him they were there and asked if he would like to see them, he mouthed to her, Send in the ladies.
I laughed when I heard that story. That is so him.
My class, the one he's in, cannot send cards or flowers or anything while he is in the ICU. So they scrawled messages of love on the white board, gathered in front of it, and posed for a cell phone picture which is being sent to his family. His sister holds the cell phone up for him to see all the messages and pictures pouring in, the love sent his and their way.
It only takes a split second. One decision made, one moment of youthful exuberance. We pray he will recover fully, but there's no way to know right now. In the meantime, we're left reeling in the wake, struggling to grasp what happened, thanking God for miracles, praying for the doctors who hold his body in their hands, praying to the Master Healer who holds his future in His hands.
10 years ago
9 bits of love:
That is so, so scary... my goodness, poor boy... I hope he can make a recovery. That is horrible, and yes, it only takes a split second. We can never be too careful.
Praying!
- SoccerSister
I will pray for this young man.
I came to your blog by way of Arby's and have read your comments to his posts many times.
Please know that this young man, his family and the medical staff are all in my prayers.
So easily done, such a catastrophic consequence. I hope that he is ok and makes a full recovery. If he doesn't then he must think of the guy on the (British) radio the other day - paralysed from the neck down aged 18 diving into a pool, just completed a solo across the Atlantic sail. Send in the ladies indeed. He sounds great. Please let us know how he does.
This story brought tears to my eyes. It's a terrible circumstance, but at least he is surrounded by loving support and getting excellent car.
I join the others here in praying for and hoping for his total recovery.
wow. prayers are going out to him and his family. dang.
Found this via Arby. The boy is in my prayers, also linked to your post from my own blog.
This is so scary, especially being the parent of a teenager who is thisclose to getting a driver's license. I hope this young man is fortunate enough to regain feeling in his body and resume his life.
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