Last Friday, a terrible incident shattered the life of Matthew Sanchez.

A sophomore at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fairburn, Sanchez was

playing in a football game against Pacelli High School. According to

a published report in the Newnan Times-Herald, while he was coming up

to make a tackle, Sanchez, a free safety, was blocked into the ball carrier

and hit the ground hard. Sanchez was unable to feel his arms or legs

and was completely paralyzed. He was "life-flighted" to Atlanta

Medical Center and shortly thereafter transferred to Shepherd Spinal

Center. The doctors discovered that Sanchez's fifth vertebra was "crushed."

Football, at any age, is a dangerous game. I played two years at Ross

N. Robinson Junior High School and all of my years at Dobyns-Bennett

High School in Kingsport, Tenn. After high school, I played flag football

at Fort Lee, Va., and put the pads and helmet back on to play at Quantico,

Va. For my trouble, I lettered my ninth-grade year in junior high, received

a junior varsity letter in high school, followed by two varsity letters.

I did make the All-East All Star Team at Quantico.

I also carried away a gashed hand from a cleat, a cheek that required

stitches, a couple of chipped teeth, dozens of bloody noses and split

lips, a separated shoulder (twice), and, last year, I finally had the

knee surgery that I have needed for over 30 years, compliments of high

school football. Two of my sons played football and, every game, I prayed

that they would not receive the kind of devastating injuries that Matthew

Sanchez sustained last Friday night. Although they had their share of

injuries, neither theirs nor mine came anywhere close to those suffered

Football is not for the faint-hearted. Every year, people are injured

and some will even die. But nearly every football player will sustain

a number of injuries over his athletic career. Football requires players

to hit, block, knock down, run over, run past, and run through the players

on the opposing team. Cream puffs and mamma's boys do not usually last

through the first week of the summer "two-a-day" practices.

In most schools, especially in the South, the football players are at

the top of the athletic pecking order. Even a third-string bench warmer

has instant respect by virtue of simply being on the team. Football is

a manly game, we believe, like boxing or rugby. Football players pride

themselves on being able to hit hard and on being able to take a lick.

Most football players will try to play hurt rather than take a ride on

the bench.� And sometimes, things go terribly, terribly wrong.

Matthew Sanchez, a Sharpsburg resident, is facing some difficult days

ahead. He is, according to his father, Rudjard Hayes, a person who "won't

quit fighting." His attitude, his dad says, "is incredible

... upbeat ... a source of inspiration to everyone around him."

Matthew is, it appears, a tough kid. He has faced obstacles and overcome

challenges before and, with God's help, he will successfully face and

overcome this as well. The good news in all this is that Matthew's spinal

cord was not severed and he has experienced some slight feeling returning

to his hands and legs. The doctors are hopeful and the good people at

Matthew's school are standing with him and his family. His mother, Lorraine,

has expressed amazement regarding the number of prayers and phone calls

that have come in from around the country.

We prayed last Wednesday at our church during our noon Healing Service

for Matthew's recovery. We will continue to pray that Matthew Sanchez

will not only recover but that his progress will exceed all expectations.

I encourage you to pray as well.

"O God of heavenly powers, who, by the might of thy command, drivest

away from men's bodies all sickness and all infirmity; Be present in

thy goodness with this thy servant Matthew, that his weakness may be

banished and his strength recalled; that his health being thereupon restored,

he may bless thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

[Father David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal

Church at 4881 Ga. Highway 34 between Peachtree City and Newnan. He may

be contacted at [email protected].�The church, which meets at 8 a.m.

and 10 a.m. each Sunday, has a Web site at www.ctkcec.org. A fund has

been set up to help Matthew and his family at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic

Highway, 861 Highway 279, Fairburn, GA 30213.]

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