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A Missouri football player suffered serious spinal cord injuries that temporarily paralyzed him during practice. Senior linebacker, Drew Gordon, sustained severe injuries Sept. 9 after being kneed in the helmet my one of his teammates.
The impact of the knee to the front of Gordon’s helmet resulted in an immediate concussion, forcing his neck to snap backwards. According to medical reports, his spinal cord went through a series of “bending, compressing and twisting contortions,” which resulted in extreme bruising.
Rock Bridge athletic trainer, Greg Nagel, asked Gordon, who almost lost consciousness, to move his toes, but he was unable to do so. According to reports, he was taken off the field within 30 minutes of the accident and rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
Gordon, who is now undergoing physical therapy, says he barely remembers what happened. "I was temporarily paralyzed for a few minutes," he said. "The doctor said I was close to being a paraplegic."
According to reports, Gordon has regained the ability to walk and has started a rehabilitation program for his neck injury. The senior, however, will not be able to play for the rest of the season.
"It was about this close," said Nagel, as he spread his forefinger and thumb apart slightly to show how near Gordon came to being permanently paralyzed. "It's just a matter of millimeters. Everything is so close in there (where Gordon injured his neck). With just a little bit more force to the head, he could've been paraplegic."
Gordon, who is happy to be able to walk, said he had mixed emotions when his doctor explained his situation. "I was so mad," he said. "I was happy about not being paralyzed, but I can't play for the rest of the season. It sucked."
(Source: Missourian)
Have you or someone you know suffered a serious spinal cord injury? If so, contact us today to speak to a qualified personal injury attorney who will help guide you through this difficult time.
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