'I Thank God': They Said He Might Not Live, Now College Football Player with Severe Brain Injury Is Talking
After suffering a severe headache and collapsing during a football game last fall, a Tennessee State University football player says it was his belief in God that saved his life.
When middle linebacker Christion Abercrombie crumbled to the ground during a game with Vanderbilt last September, he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Doctors diagnosed that Abercrombie was suffering from a severe brain injury and had suffered a number of strokes. They told his family that he might not even make it through the night. But his parents and teammates did the only thing they could – they prayed expecting a miracle.
Jeremy Buchanan tweeted a photo of the Tennessee and Vanderbilt teams meeting at the 50-yard line after the game to pray for Abercrombie.
Vanderbilt and Tennessee State met at the 50 yard line after the game to pray for injured player Christian Abercrombie @VandyFootball @tsu_football @KySportsRadio pic.twitter.com/lS7cp2J8m4
— Jeremy Buchanan (@jeremyrbuchanan) September 29, 2018
"I prayed with expectancy because I knew God was going to bless us," Abercrombie's mother Staci told WSB-TV.
Today, Abercrombie is still recovering, focusing on his rehabilitation and finishing his degree in sports medicine at TSU.
He has a message to share with other injured athletes.
"Believe in God because without him nothing is possible. He made everything happen for me," he said. "I thank God for that every day."
Doctors recently conducted several tests on Abercrombie and reported that his brain is healing well.
Abercrombie's family and Tennessee State created a GoFundMe page to help with the cost of Christion's rehab. So far, more than $60,000 has been raised in five months towards the $250,000 goal. You can learn more about it here.