Bills' Tight End Suffers "Catastrophic" Injury

I love watching the local high school football games, but every now and then there's big hit and for a few moments the whole crowd is silent until the player gets up. A couple of times during the past five years I've seen kids taken from the field in ambulances. I'll never forget one from a year or so ago when a visiting player was clobbered by one of our guys. The hit was so hard that our trainer was running toward the downed player even before the whistle sounded to stop the play. Fortunately, that kid was okay after being checked out at the hospital, but we were all afraid for him. There was an audible sigh of relief from the crowd when the PA announcer informed us later in the game that he was going to be okay.

In the NFL last night the circumstances were not so fortunate for one Buffalo Bills' player:

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills' Kevin Everett sustained a "catastrophic" and life-threatening spinal-cord injury and his chances of regaining a full range of body motion are very small, an orthopedic surgeon said Monday.

"A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely," Dr. Andrew Cappuccino said, one day after performing a four-hour operation on the player. "I believe there will be some permanent neurological paralysis. ... A full neurological recovery was bleak, dismal."

Cappuccino noted the 25-year-old reserve tight end did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett's injury remained life-threatening, saying the player is still susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.

Everett is currently under forced sedation and breathing through a respirator as doctors wait for the swelling to lessen. Cappuccino said it will take up to three days to determine the severity of the injury and the recovery process.

During the operation, Cappuccino repaired a break between the third and fourth vertebrae and also alleviated the pressure on the spinal cord. The process included a bone graft and the insertion of a plate and four screws.

Cappuccino said Everett was alert and is aware of the extent of his injuries.

"I was honest with him, and he told me, 'Do everything you can to help me,"' said Cappuccino, who works for the Bills as a consultant, specializing in spinal surgery.

Another NFL player, Darrell Stingley, was paralyzed in a game many years ago and recently passed away as a result of his injuries. Our prayers go out to Everett and his family.