Sequim football player in intensive care at Harborview
SEATTLE - A Sequim High School football player remains in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center after slipping into a coma Friday night. But his mother says 17-year old Adrien Gault has made remarkable steps towards recovery.
"He would squeeze my hand a little bit, his toes would move and that was amazing for me," Patricia McCarter said while holding back tears. "Little by little he does very good."
Gault was taken to the hospital during the Sequim High football game against North Mason. Coaches pulled him from the game after he complained of headaches during the second quarter. He collapsed on the sidelines and went into a seizure.
"That was really tough for me because his eyes were wide open and there was no movement," said McCarter.
The incident came half an hour after Gault collided helmet-to-helmet with another teammate during pregame warmups. McCarter says doctors found a blood clot in her son's brain and airlifted him to Harborview Medical Center.
Surgeons removed part of his skull to relieve the pressure. McCarter said he was paralyzed from the waste down after the surgery but was able to breath on his own Monday.
This is the second brain injury to Gault this season. On September 8th he suffered a concussion after a violent collision with a Port Angeles High football player.
He was taken by ambulance then as well, but was cleared to play three weeks later.
In a statement, the Sequim School District said, "He had a new, complete, physical and full release from his physician. Coaches followed standard precautions for a player returning following such an injury."
Doctors plan to re-attach the part of Gault's skull removed this weekend in about three months.
"He would squeeze my hand a little bit, his toes would move and that was amazing for me," Patricia McCarter said while holding back tears. "Little by little he does very good."
Gault was taken to the hospital during the Sequim High football game against North Mason. Coaches pulled him from the game after he complained of headaches during the second quarter. He collapsed on the sidelines and went into a seizure.
"That was really tough for me because his eyes were wide open and there was no movement," said McCarter.
The incident came half an hour after Gault collided helmet-to-helmet with another teammate during pregame warmups. McCarter says doctors found a blood clot in her son's brain and airlifted him to Harborview Medical Center.
Surgeons removed part of his skull to relieve the pressure. McCarter said he was paralyzed from the waste down after the surgery but was able to breath on his own Monday.
This is the second brain injury to Gault this season. On September 8th he suffered a concussion after a violent collision with a Port Angeles High football player.
He was taken by ambulance then as well, but was cleared to play three weeks later.
In a statement, the Sequim School District said, "He had a new, complete, physical and full release from his physician. Coaches followed standard precautions for a player returning following such an injury."
Doctors plan to re-attach the part of Gault's skull removed this weekend in about three months.
