SOURCE: www.wkyc.com

Author: Candice Hare

TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio — One year after a football injury left him paralyzed, Tuscarawas Valley High School student Mayson White is still finding a way to stay close to the game he loves.

White was a freshman when he took the field for his first varsity football game last year.

“About halfway through the second quarter, I went for a tackle and pretty much broke my neck,” White said.

The collision fractured his C4 vertebra, leaving him paralyzed.

In the year since, White has spent a lot of time in therapy. He says he's made progress, especially with the strength in his arms.

But through some of the hardest parts of his recovery, football has remained a constant.

White still comes to Tusky Valley practices, where he's now a team captain. He says being around his teammates gives him something to look forward to and helps him push through difficult days.

“It helps me get through a lot of therapy and stuff, you know, a lot of hard times,” White said.

And the support goes beyond football.

“A lot of emotional support as well, if I'm ever getting in my feelings," White said. “It's a lot of support all around pretty much.”

Tusky Valley head football coach Cade Adams has known White since he was in kindergarten. He says having Mayson remain part of the team was never really a question.

“He's on the roster. He's still part of the team. He's a team captain,” Adams said. “I wouldn't have it any other way than having him here every day like he is.”

But while White's teammates have helped him through the past year, Adams says they're learning from him, too.

“Don't take anything for granted,” Adams said. “You never know when something you love gets taken from you in one moment.”

It's a lesson White has had to learn far earlier than most.

When asked what he would tell another young person going through something difficult, White pointed to the people who have helped him.

“Remember your friends and family, your community who's hopefully supporting you,” Mayson said.

And despite everything he's accomplished over the past year, White remains pretty humble about his progress.

Asked if he's proud of himself, his answer was simple: “Kinda.” But, he did acknowledge that what he's doing isn't easy.

A lot has changed for White since that first varsity football game. The way he experiences the sport is different now, and so are many parts of his everyday life.

But to the people who have known him for years, one thing hasn't changed.

“He's still here with us. He's still Mayson to us,” Adams said. “He's still the same kid he always was. That's not going to change.”