Max
09-21-2003, 10:10 AM
Town welcomes John Paul home
By Gary Hanner
09-19-2003
John Paul Montgomery enjoys a visit earlier this week from Pell City Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hathcock, Assistant Superintendent Michael Barber and head football coach Jay Brown. John Paul is recovering at home after being injured during football practice Aug. 14.
PELL CITY - After undergoing surgery and being at Birmingham's Children's Hospital for the past four weeks, John Paul Montgomery is back home, where he is still recovering after being seriously injured during football practice.
The day was Aug. 14 and school at Pell City High had wrapped up its fourth day of the new year.
John Paul went to the practice field in front of the high school as he had numerous times. Only this day, he would not walk off the field.
The 14-year-old freshman was practicing with the junior varsity football team, as usual, and around 5 p.m. he made a tackle - a tackle that he will remember forever.
As players climbed back to their feet, John Paul lay motionless on the field with no feeling in his body. His neck was broken.
Teammates and coaches gathered around, and then his parents, Paul and Tina Montgomery, arrived.
"One of the most important things that happened when we arrived was when he saw his dad and I, he asked us to pray for him," John Paul's mother said. "His sister, Cherish, arrived at about the same time. She is a nurse and we all three prayed with him."
Moments later, LifeSaver Helicopter arrived to take him to Children's Hospital.
While his sister stayed with him until the helicopter left the field, John Paul's parents were in their vehicle headed to I-20 to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.
"While we were on the interstate, we saw the helicopter fly above us," Tina Montgomery said. "Knowing it was my son in that helicopter was pretty dramatic."
Tests were run immediately and John Paul never lost consciousness, but there was no feeling from his neck down and he was unable to move.
By 9:30 p.m., John Paul was in surgery. Bone was removed from his hip and placed in his neck as the broken bone in his neck was removed. Surgery was expected to take anywhere from 2 to 5 and a half hours. The hit on the field broke the fifth cervical, or C-5, vertebra. Fortunately, his spinal cord was not cut but was badly bruised.
"It only took 1 hour and 45 minutes," his mother said. "Doctors told us from the very beginning he did very well during surgery."
She said that two days after surgery, John Paul was able to move his arms and she began to see miracles take place in her son's life.
"Immediately, my thoughts went back to the practice field and him asking us to pray for him," Tina Montgomery said. "We could not have made it as long as we have and as good as we have had it not been for that prayer. We have a big God and we're expecting 100 percent recovery. We have a peace about the entire situation. John Paul has a great attitude and has stayed positive from day one."
John Paul spent six days in the Intensive Care Unit. That's when physical therapy began.
Although Sept. 11 reminds people of the terrible acts of terrorism in the United States, that day has a new purpose for the Montgomery family because that is the day John Paul came home from the hospital.
Anticipating his return, banners and balloons were hung in various parts of town by family members and friends, which made John Paul feel very important.
John Paul can move his arms more and more with each day and is getting a lot of upper body strength thanks to therapy. He is not able to move his legs at this point. He goes to Children's Hospital three days a week for therapy.
Pell City Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hathcock said anytime there is an injury like this to anyone, it is very difficult, especially to young people.
"Football is a contact sport and unfortunately you have some of these things to happen sometimes," Hathcock said. "The Montgomery family are wonderful people, and John Paul is a great young man. If anybody can make a full recovery, I think he will. He has tremendous support from the community, the School System and from his family. I'm very optimistic he will make a full recovery."
Hathcock said John Paul has many good things going for him right now.
"He is a healthy young man," Hathcock said. "I encourage everyone to keep supporting and praying for him and the family. People need to keep encouraging him to do the things necessary so he will make a full recovery. I can't say enough good things about how the community has rallied behind this family during a difficult time."
Assistant Superintendent Michael Barber said he is moved by the dedication of the family and how they are dealing with this situation.
"John Paul is blessed to have such wonderful parents," he said. "He is working real hard to make physical improvements and that comes from the encouragement of his parents. We will continue to pray for him and are happy with the way the community is showing its support. To see John Paul making improvements shows he is a tough young man."
Head football coach Jay Brown said he thinks the world of John Paul and his family and is excited to see the improvements being made.
"John Paul is strong and has a great heart," he said. "He also has a great family. Everyone at the school is very supportive and praying for him and just excited about him being at home. We look forward to the day he can be back at school with us."
As a coach, this type ordeal is something Brown worries about with all his players and hopes never happens.
"Unfortunately, it did happen and happened at practice and it was just a terrible accident," he said. "That's the bad part of football. Things like this do happen and all you can do is hurt inside. It's terrible that it happened but we hope John Paul continues to get better."
"We want to thank the community of Pell City and the school system for all the support they have shown us," Paul Montgomery said. "Mainly, we want to thank all of our friends and family for their prayers and love gifts. We give God all the glory and lives are being changed daily."
John Paul has an older brother, Kevin Peoples of Odenville.
A trust fund has been set up at Metro Bank in Pell City. Anyone interested in donating can go by the bank or call 205-884-2265. They can also send donations to Metro Bank, 800 Martin St. South, Pell City, AL 35128 in care of the John Paul Montgomery Fund.
About Gary Hanner Gary Hanner is a staff writer for The Daily Home and Associate Editor of The St. Clair Times.
Contact Gary Hanner Phone:
E-mail:
205-884-3400
pcnews@dailyhome.com
By Gary Hanner
09-19-2003
John Paul Montgomery enjoys a visit earlier this week from Pell City Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hathcock, Assistant Superintendent Michael Barber and head football coach Jay Brown. John Paul is recovering at home after being injured during football practice Aug. 14.
PELL CITY - After undergoing surgery and being at Birmingham's Children's Hospital for the past four weeks, John Paul Montgomery is back home, where he is still recovering after being seriously injured during football practice.
The day was Aug. 14 and school at Pell City High had wrapped up its fourth day of the new year.
John Paul went to the practice field in front of the high school as he had numerous times. Only this day, he would not walk off the field.
The 14-year-old freshman was practicing with the junior varsity football team, as usual, and around 5 p.m. he made a tackle - a tackle that he will remember forever.
As players climbed back to their feet, John Paul lay motionless on the field with no feeling in his body. His neck was broken.
Teammates and coaches gathered around, and then his parents, Paul and Tina Montgomery, arrived.
"One of the most important things that happened when we arrived was when he saw his dad and I, he asked us to pray for him," John Paul's mother said. "His sister, Cherish, arrived at about the same time. She is a nurse and we all three prayed with him."
Moments later, LifeSaver Helicopter arrived to take him to Children's Hospital.
While his sister stayed with him until the helicopter left the field, John Paul's parents were in their vehicle headed to I-20 to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.
"While we were on the interstate, we saw the helicopter fly above us," Tina Montgomery said. "Knowing it was my son in that helicopter was pretty dramatic."
Tests were run immediately and John Paul never lost consciousness, but there was no feeling from his neck down and he was unable to move.
By 9:30 p.m., John Paul was in surgery. Bone was removed from his hip and placed in his neck as the broken bone in his neck was removed. Surgery was expected to take anywhere from 2 to 5 and a half hours. The hit on the field broke the fifth cervical, or C-5, vertebra. Fortunately, his spinal cord was not cut but was badly bruised.
"It only took 1 hour and 45 minutes," his mother said. "Doctors told us from the very beginning he did very well during surgery."
She said that two days after surgery, John Paul was able to move his arms and she began to see miracles take place in her son's life.
"Immediately, my thoughts went back to the practice field and him asking us to pray for him," Tina Montgomery said. "We could not have made it as long as we have and as good as we have had it not been for that prayer. We have a big God and we're expecting 100 percent recovery. We have a peace about the entire situation. John Paul has a great attitude and has stayed positive from day one."
John Paul spent six days in the Intensive Care Unit. That's when physical therapy began.
Although Sept. 11 reminds people of the terrible acts of terrorism in the United States, that day has a new purpose for the Montgomery family because that is the day John Paul came home from the hospital.
Anticipating his return, banners and balloons were hung in various parts of town by family members and friends, which made John Paul feel very important.
John Paul can move his arms more and more with each day and is getting a lot of upper body strength thanks to therapy. He is not able to move his legs at this point. He goes to Children's Hospital three days a week for therapy.
Pell City Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hathcock said anytime there is an injury like this to anyone, it is very difficult, especially to young people.
"Football is a contact sport and unfortunately you have some of these things to happen sometimes," Hathcock said. "The Montgomery family are wonderful people, and John Paul is a great young man. If anybody can make a full recovery, I think he will. He has tremendous support from the community, the School System and from his family. I'm very optimistic he will make a full recovery."
Hathcock said John Paul has many good things going for him right now.
"He is a healthy young man," Hathcock said. "I encourage everyone to keep supporting and praying for him and the family. People need to keep encouraging him to do the things necessary so he will make a full recovery. I can't say enough good things about how the community has rallied behind this family during a difficult time."
Assistant Superintendent Michael Barber said he is moved by the dedication of the family and how they are dealing with this situation.
"John Paul is blessed to have such wonderful parents," he said. "He is working real hard to make physical improvements and that comes from the encouragement of his parents. We will continue to pray for him and are happy with the way the community is showing its support. To see John Paul making improvements shows he is a tough young man."
Head football coach Jay Brown said he thinks the world of John Paul and his family and is excited to see the improvements being made.
"John Paul is strong and has a great heart," he said. "He also has a great family. Everyone at the school is very supportive and praying for him and just excited about him being at home. We look forward to the day he can be back at school with us."
As a coach, this type ordeal is something Brown worries about with all his players and hopes never happens.
"Unfortunately, it did happen and happened at practice and it was just a terrible accident," he said. "That's the bad part of football. Things like this do happen and all you can do is hurt inside. It's terrible that it happened but we hope John Paul continues to get better."
"We want to thank the community of Pell City and the school system for all the support they have shown us," Paul Montgomery said. "Mainly, we want to thank all of our friends and family for their prayers and love gifts. We give God all the glory and lives are being changed daily."
John Paul has an older brother, Kevin Peoples of Odenville.
A trust fund has been set up at Metro Bank in Pell City. Anyone interested in donating can go by the bank or call 205-884-2265. They can also send donations to Metro Bank, 800 Martin St. South, Pell City, AL 35128 in care of the John Paul Montgomery Fund.
About Gary Hanner Gary Hanner is a staff writer for The Daily Home and Associate Editor of The St. Clair Times.
Contact Gary Hanner Phone:
E-mail:
205-884-3400
pcnews@dailyhome.com