A high school football player who suffered a life-changing accident was able to return to the field with the help of his teammates.
For over a year, Xavier Johnson has been watching his team play from the sidelines. Johnson was injured after a tubing accident, which left him with impaired motor control.
However, Johnson’s father Ross, said his son is still a part of the team. “He gets to go to team meetings. He’s welcome to come to the weight room. He’s welcome comes to practices,” he said.
Johnson has been going through rehab, which has been documented on social media. He communicates by holding up one of two fingers, kicking a leg or smiling. “He’s doing things that they said that he would never be able to do,” his father said.
Friday night after opening kick-off — Johnson’s team and their opponents agreed to stop their game so the teen could get a chance to show off his skills on the field.
“He has never lost this drive, this hope and this piece,” his father said.
His teammates helped him make it through two yards, with nothing but end zone in front of him. For a minute and ten seconds, the star linebacker was able to enjoy the field again.
“There is so much that is firing in his brain to get him to be able stand up like that,” his father said as he watched the heroic touchdown. “I couldn’t even begin to quantify the exertion it takes.”
Although it wasn’t exactly the play he dreamt for his son, Johnson’s father said he couldn’t be prouder.
“The story that He has written through Xavier, from a wheelchair, blows away the story that I was writing for him on the football field,” he said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Johnson’s family with medical expenses. More than $25,000 has already been raised.
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