Update on Texans WR Harry Williams...fractured vertebrae *Merge*

[WoodysGirl]

WILLIAMS AVOIDS PERMANENT PARALYSIS
Posted by Mike Florio on August 23, 2008, 8:54 a.m.
Texans receiver Harry Williams, whose helmet collided with teammate Nick Ferguson’s torso while covering a kick on Saturday night, suffered a fracture of the C3 vertebra, according to ESPN.com.

Williams was “paralyzed on the field,” but later regained motion and later was “almost normal.” He’ll have surgery to fuse two of the bones in his neck together.

“At the current time, he has regained almost normal neurologic function,” the team said in a statement. “The evaluation at the hospital revealed a fracture of the C3 vertebra and a significant ligamentous injury to the neck. This injury will require surgical stabilization this weekend.”

Last year, Bills tight end Kevin Everett suffered a fracture at the C4 level. As the “C” numbers get lower, the extent of the potential paralyis increases. Per Medicinenet.com, “People who survive spinal cord injuries above [the C4 level] need ventilators or machines to breathe.”

So Williams got lucky. Very lucky. The broken bone occurred high enough to cause serious, irreparable damage. Though his football career undoubtedly is over, he’ll apparently live a normal life, apparently with minimal rehab.

 

[ZeroClub]

Things could have been much worse; good that they weren't.

Still, it's gotta be very tough to have one's life long dream - playing & getting paid in the NFL - come crashing down in an instant.

 

[stealth]

How does the NFL handle stuff like this these days?

Does he get all his medical needs handled and some type of a pension?

I hope so, I wish him nothing but the best.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Fault. "A responsibility for a wrongful act". 'Fault' is a poor choice of words.

Nick Ferguson slipped and hit Williams in the helmet trying to tackle Stanback also. It's not Ferguson's fault and it's certainly not Stanback's. It was an unfortunate accident which sometimes occurs in football and even though I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, I take great offense to how you phrased it, which implies blame due to Stanback's move.

I know you weren't talking to me East, but he said not Stanback's fault. Maybe you don't like his choice of words, but he actually said the opposite of what you're implying.

 

[PBJTime]

He should be ok, but his career is most certainly over. My girlfriend actually just had cervical fusion for the second time last week as a result of a car wreck. Neck injuries can be tricky things.