Spinal Cord Injury

[irefky]

Guys, could I ask you to toot your whistle once for me at your next game?

I have just returned home from a spinal cord surgery. I have had tremendous response to my surgery and can even walk. I was paralyzed for two days, flown out to the Univeristy of KY hospital for emergency surgery. The surgery lasted almost 6 hours, a new wire cage with bone graph to replace the 4 5 6 in the neck. A piece of the fragment from the vertebrate has broke off and was on my spinal cord which created the paralized state.

I took my first steps about 15 hours later, doctors were just amazed by my progress and I will have about year to regain full functions. The greatest thing, I was able to hold my four month old today for the first time in a week. My basketball and baseball games are over for this year but with hard work, continue support from family and friends, I will be back on the football field next year.

It really hits home when a doctor tells your family that the surgery may not give you back your walking ability, when it does, you feel so blessed.

Thanks guys and give me a toot and I wish you all a Merry Christmas. I will try and work as much as I can with my fingers on here while off from work for a few months.

Don Carroll

[AndrewMcCarthy]

How did this happen? Just out of nowhere??

[MJT]

Got my prayers on this board too, Don!

[irefky]

I was at work Tuesday and had severe pain between my shoulder blades. I must have had some post injury severe enough to have attacked me months later. I do work at a Psychiatric Facility and may have been months ago when this happened.

I was shocked to wake up miles from home facing the possibilities of surgery and never walking again. My loving wife was there with me as several other family members. Just now, several of my fellow officials are now finding out this information are as shocked as I was a week ago. They're all calling me in dis-belief. I have just been blessed by a great gift by GOD and must work to make since on why I was granted to be able to walk again. My goal in life was to work major college, what a scene it was re-habilitating looking out the window and viewing a major college stadium at UK. That is my goal and hopefully with continue work and drive, I will make it one day. If not, I did get a chance to stand, hug my wife and baby once more.

[AndrewMcCarthy]

Scary stuff. Since I'm sure most of us won't be able to toot our whistles for you until next season- our thoughts are with you.

[bossman72]

Good luck Don!

I know about coming back from injuries (although not the severity of yours). When you're doing your rehab, always have some type of inspiration like a mental goal or if you need to, put a picture up somewhere where you will see it every day when you go to do rehab to make you give it that extra effort. It helped me when i would go to rehab and i didn't feel like going and i was just going to do it half assed one day. I would look at that inspirational picture and it would give me an extra energy boost and i would have a great workout.

For you, maybe you could put up an action photo of you on the field and just say to yourself when you look at it "if i'm going to get back to being like that, i have to work hard."

Whatever you do- good luck!

[ljudge]

I wish you much success in your rehab. My achilles injury and rehab wasn't even close to what you're going through. I still had to endure a 6-month rehab just to return to the field. Last January I said the same thing "I WILL be back on the football field next year" and sure enough worked a full schedule. Just work hard in therpy and keep the positive attitude and there's no doubt it will happen.

You'll be back. Keep us posted on your progress.

All the best to you and your family.

[Rick KY]

Irefky, my prayers are with you and your family. I'm glad to hear of your early success following surgery, and hope it continues.

[waltjp]

Don,

While I respect your request to toot a whistle for you I'll hold off in hopes that you'll be well enough to do so for yourself. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Walt