WashingtonPreps.com - This Friday Pray for Matthew

October 9, 2009

Dirk Knudsen
WashingtonPreps.com Editor

It happens. The unthinkable. A mother cry's from the stands as her baby goes down on the field. Breaths are held. Murmurs arise from the crowd.

The player stays down as anxious team mates and coaches look on. First a trainer. Then a team physician and then the ambulance rolls in. Anxious and nervous times are played out all over America every Friday night.

As we build this game and these players bigger and faster and stronger we often forget that it is still a violent sport capable of crushing flesh and bone. For most the worst is a twisted ankle or broken bone. But for some it can be much much more. The toll to play much higher.

In our home we dealt with a serious concussion in 2008. It was a close call and only later would my son admit after missing three games that he was still groggy and fighting headaches. We are so grateful to the trainers and doctors and the baseline testing that Westview High in Portland had instituted which ultimately kept him off the field until he was better. But he was lucky.

Matthew Newman of Highland High School in Cowiche, Washington was not so lucky. He wears #7 and is the Quarterback there. On September 18th in an overtime game against Naches Valley Matt appeared disoriented after running a pass play and apparently had taken a blow.

According to his coaches, Newman came up after being hit, ran the pass play and then appeared to have difficulty focusing on the next play. As soon as he complained of numbness in his legs and a headache the medics were rushed to the field.

Shortly after that he was rushed to Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center where a surgery was performed to relieve the pressure from his brain. Today is October 8th. Matt has been in that hospital for 20 days now and undergone all that was and is possible to return his health to him.

The support of hundreds if not thousands of fans has been there for him and his team. Matt is making progress and while it has been slow he appears to be on his way back. The level of recovery Matthew will make is not for sure yet. His trials and triumphs are being documented everyday and everyday I get an email from his wonderful website where his progress is reported. That site is linked below right and you can sign up and leave a message of hope or a good thought or prayer. I suggest you do even if you have never heard of Matthew Newman.

Come Visit Matt and Read his Story of Hope and recovery Here: CLICK

The last post from the website is below. Tomorrow is a big day for Matt as he is moving to Seattle to continue his treatment.

"Matthew moves on to the next phase of his recovery process with an ambulance ride to Children's hospital in Seattle tomorrow morning. There, he will begin an aggressive rehabilitation schedule for an unknown period of time. It is with some nervous excitement and anticipation that we all see him move on to this next level and new challenges for the family as they juggle life in two cities at once. While getting out of ICU is always considered a good thing; we are all a little sad to be leaving a group of such talented doctors and absolutely terrific nurses. A special thanks to all the Yakima Regional medical staff for the terrific care and concern poured out to Matthew over the past three weeks."

This is a great story. Matt is trying so hard to fight his way back and the severe injury he sustained is not capable of breaking the incredible spirit inside of him. Read his story. Get involved. Try and help in anyway that you can. Sign his log and help him fight his way back.

Before the boys go off to school and pre-game preparations tomorrow count your blessings. Kiss your sons. Give them an extra pat on the back and maybe a bigger hug. You too dad's! You never plan for bad things to happen. They just do.

You fans enjoy the game more. Cheer louder and gripe less. Maybe even cut the ref a break. He is doing his best...usually. Breath in the mist and smell of fresh popcorn and the BBQ. Soak it all in.

Coaches and teachers. Renew your faith in the kids and believe that you are impacting there lives in a way that no one else ever can or will. It's true and if you ever doubted it...don't. Work harder. Teach more. Inspire them forever. Do what you do best.

Players. Look at each other. Your young and fearless and brave. Your all on that field together accomplishing things that will carry you far beyond the wins and losses and roar of the crowd. Enjoy it. Breath it in and just be there. Charge your battery of life to its limit and let it overflow. Be there, really there, for each other and no one else.

When you all go out tomorrow night think of Matthew. His accident and effort to return to the life he had remind us of all that what we have is so very special. Pray for his full recovery and for the health and happiness of his entire family. Even more pray that no one else is hurt this year.

9,615 people have visited Matthews page online and signed in. Go be number 9,616 and so on. Here is to #7 Quarterback for the Highland Scotties; Matthew Newman. Heel up as soon as you can and the best you can. This Friday, and every Friday, I and the readers of WashingtonPreps.com and all of your Washington Football family and beyond will be thinking of you!

God speed Matthew.

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