On Oct. 8, 2004, J.T. Townsend, a football and basketball standout for Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Fla., suffered a career-ending spinal injury while making a tackle.
On July 8, Townsend underwent a procedure to have an electronic device implanted in his diaphragm. During the procedure, electrodes were placed in the diaphragm and attached through wires under the skin to a small external battery pack that electrically stimulates the muscle and phrenic nerves, causing the muscle to contract and air to enter the lungs.
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July 17, 2005 – Injured player and family welcome support from Shoremen, Wildcats
By: Eddie Dwyer
The football programs at Avon Lake and St. Ignatius high schools have experienced an abundance of success. But while their players are well-schooled in fundamentals of the game, there are many life lessons for them to learn away from the field.
Last week, some of the Shoremen and Wildcats were fortunate enough to learn from a fellow high school football player. And they will tell you they walked away with a lasting and inspiring impression.
On Oct. 8, 2004, J.T. Townsend, a football and basketball standout for Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Fla., suffered a career-ending spinal injury while making a tackle. Townsend, who lost feeling in his limbs, underwent surgery to fuse vertebrae and stabilize his spinal cord.
His rehabilitation led Townsend to Ohio and the care of Dr. Raymond P. Onders, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
On July 8, Townsend, a May graduate of Episcopal High, underwent a procedure to have an electronic device implanted in his diaphragm. During the procedure, electrodes were placed in the diaphragm and attached through wires under the skin to a small external battery pack that electrically stimulates the muscle and phrenic nerves, causing the muscle to contract and air to enter the lungs.
Learning about Townsend from teammate Chris Matgouranis, whose father is an anesthesiologist, some members of Avon Lake's football team took time out from their preseason conditioning to lend support to Townsend and his family at the hospital. They were on hand as Townsend was being readied for the surgical procedure.
The Shoremen presented Townsend's mother, Carmen, with a football T-shirt and an Avon Lake hat.
"Something like this makes you realize that there is certainly more to life than just the X's and the O's," Avon Lake football coach Dave Dlugosz said. "This was an opportunity for our young kids to learn about support and how to deal with adversity. We are planning to visit with J.T. one more time before he goes home."
For St. Ignatius' football program, Townsend's injury struck close to home.
On Sept. 11, 2003, St. Ignatius' Mark Tupa suffered a spinal injury while making a tackle during a freshman football game against Shaker Heights. Nearly 24 months later, Tupa, with the assistance of a walker, is preparing for his junior year.
Tupa said he is "getting better and better each day." So much better that he spent part of his summer vacation working at the Big Shot Basketball camp at Euclid High and is in the process of obtaining his driver's license.
Tupa, who does his rehab and therapy at University Hospitals, learned about Townsend from Onders. Tupa used the Internet to learn more about Townsend's injury, and he and his mother, Sue, visited Townsend at the hospital.
After undergoing the outpatient procedure, Townsend and his family are staying at a downtown hotel. Onders said Townsend will begin conditioning therapy on Tuesday.
St. Ignatius football coach Chuck Kyle asked his three senior captains -- John Ryan, Mike Armagno and Rudy Kirbus -- to join him and Wildcats Athletic Director Dale Gabor to visit Townsend at his hotel room last week.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Townsend greeted Kyle and his players with a warm smile.
"It's really inspiring to see a kid like J.T., who has lost a big part of his life in sports, still be just so optimistic and be making new goals for himself," said Ryan, a Notre Dame recruit. "It also makes you realize how vulnerable we all are. You could be one play away from having everything change."
Townsend's mother, who videotaped visits from the Avon Lake players, Tupa and the St. Ignatius captains, was overwhelmed by what she called "Cleveland's heart."
As the Shoremen had, the Wildcats presented J.T. with a football jersey and a cap, and Ryan's mother, Carol, prepared a spaghetti dinner for the Townsend family.
"They're like our angels," Carmen Townsend said, referring to Tupa and the athletes from Avon Lake and St. Ignatius. "Here we are, from another city, and all of them have come to support us and encourage J.T. It's truly a blessing."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
edwyer@plaind.com, 216-999-4677.
Contact information
Raymond P. Onders M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Case Western Reserve University
Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery
University Hospitals of Cleveland
11100 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-5047
216-844-5797
Raymond.onders@uhhs.com