Chiefs visit local college QB with spinal cord injury
Posted: July 25, 2012 at 3:15 am
For one brief moment, the black and yellow Ottawa jersey draped over Matt Bollig's chest made him look like he was just another football player in a room full of them. But that moment slid away as his jersey slid to his lap, revealing his white back brace and forcing his teammates and a slew of other supporters to face a tough reality.
Tough for everyone except Bollig, that is. The Braves' junior quarterback hasn't stopped believing he can regain movement in his legs since his weight room injury last week occurred.
"I'm going to make it through this," said Bollig, a high school football standout from Chanute, Kan. "I don't want to boast or anything, but I'm going to make it through this."
The 20-year-old will take that unbridled optimism to Craig Hospital in Denver, Colo., where he began spinal cord rehabilitation on Tuesday. Before he left, doctors, teammates, coaches, friends, and family waited in line in an overflowing hospital room to say their goodbyes.
That send-off party included more surprise guests: Chiefs Ambassadors Tony Adams, Anthony Davis, Ken Kremer, and Bill Maas.
In a speech he delivered to Bollig's supporters, Maas said he knew playing career could end at any time, and was saddened to hear about a local player who had football taken away too soon.
"We go through the fear of something of this nature happening to one of us," said Maas on behalf of the Ambassadors. "I want you to know that your football brethren, from the Kansas City Chiefs to Ottawa to Chanute are all going to be pulling for you in your rehab."
The four former players also presented Bollig with a host of Chiefs gifts, including a special No. 6 jersey.
It wasn't Ryan Succop's No. 6 jersey, either. Bollig wore the number at Ottawa, and the Chiefs made sure he received his own number before taking on the next stage of his recovery in Denver.
"It was pretty amazing," said Bollig, a life-long Chiefs fan. "There's a video of me at my first birthday party and in the background, the Chiefs game is on. That means a lot to me. I grew up with the Chiefs."
Read the original:
Chiefs visit local college QB with spinal cord injury
- Levels of Function in Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2011]
- Car accident causes spinal cord injury [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Exercise Recovery C-5 Incomplete [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2011]
- NCLEX - MS_Nursing_Review_on_ACUTE SPINAL CORD INJURY [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Jason- spinal cord injury quadriplegic [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Research [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2011]
- Fourcross - Spinal Cord Injury Downhill Racing [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2011]
- Aging with a Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2011]
- Spinal cord injury - Autonomic Dysreflexia [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury - Embryonic Stem Cells - Dr. Keirstead [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Patient after Stem Cell Treatment - Juan Carlos Murillo [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Progress and Promise in Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2011]
- Starting A New Life After Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury patient 10 years after injury after Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury, Part 1, by David Bailey [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2011]
- First Spinal-Cord Surgery With Stem Cells [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury - Injured Airline Pilot Flies Again [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2011]
- My Spinal cord Injury story [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Center [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2011]
- BioFitness - Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2011]
- William Rader MD - Paralyzed Spinal Cord Injury Patient Walks Again [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2011]
- Life After Spinal Cord Injury: Albert's Story [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- Pushing Boundaries 2009 Video - Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2011]
- Exercise and Spinal Cord injury [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2011]
- spinal cord injury book [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury - Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Program in South Florida [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2011]
- TB Joshua - HEALING, Enthusiastic Teacher Healed of Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Dysphagia in Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Cal State LA professor describes lab's progress with spinal cord injury clients [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Mike H. T-12 Complete Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Tina: Regaining Independence [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2011]
- The CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley - Spinal cord injury and HS football [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2011]
- 11Alive NBC News Spotlights Life After Spinal Cord Injury Program [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2011]
- Introduction to Understanding Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- George Washington Masonic Memorial: Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2011]
- Chesley M. T-4/T-5 Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2011]
- Spinal cord injury and HS football [Last Updated On: August 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 28th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Thoracic Level [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2011]
- Mike H. T-12 Complete Spinal Cord Injury - August 2011 [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Restoring breathing after spinal cord injury [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Practical Advice for Coping with Spinal Cord Injury.mov [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2011]
- Cannabis for MS [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Rock Climbing for Patients w/Spinal Cord Injuries w/Paralymp [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: High Cervical Level [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Causes, Effects and Classifications [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- The Jordanian association for spinal cord injury care [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2011]
- OSU Receives $1.7M for Spinal Cord Injury Research [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2011]
- Hunter G. T-6 Complete Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- How much is a Spinal Cord Injury worth? [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Christopher "Kit" Bond - Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Patient [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- Claire Marsh - Spinal Cord Injury Part One [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Low Cervical Level [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- The Spinal Cord Journey - Stem cell therapy stories from three spinal cord injury patients [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Paraplegic spinal cord injury Child walks on treadmill using Rifton Pacer gait trainer Mar 2011 [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Spinal cord injury story [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Sports Opportunities Abound Even After a Spinal Cord Injury [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Pintor, Alessandro [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Monique C5 Quadriplegic spinal cord injury Pacer gait walker by Rifton April 2011 [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Holly Pediatric paraplegic child spinal cord injury recovery exercises Jan 2011 [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Walking after Spinal Cord injury and Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Margaret's House Modifications.wmv - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Progress and Promise in Stem Cell Research - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Teen Makes Inspiring Recovery From Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Rehabiliation Success Story - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- April Cave Spinal Cord Injury Recovery.flv - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- L300 Foot Drop System - Testimonials - Persons with Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Acetyl l-carnitine Speeds Spinal Cord Injury Recovery by Len Saputo, MD - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Care for catastrophic injuries, spinal cord and traumatic brain injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Keeping Kids Healthy- Triumph I: Snowboarder Conquers Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- FSWC SPINAL CORD INJURY CENTRE - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Spinal cord injury walking in PT - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Grant to benefit spinal cord injury research - Video [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- Mark C5-C7 Quadriplegic spinal cord injury takes un assisted steps. 2011. Congratulations! - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- Joe C. C-3/C-4 Spinal Cord Injury-Sit to Stands - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- Physical and Mental Adjustments After a Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- "Jenn McCallson", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- spinal cord injuries - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]