Garrard County football player Luke Short on his way to see a Lexington surgeon Wednesday who let him know his neck injury was "unstable" and he would need a spinal fusion.
Garrard County senior football player Luke Short broke his neck on the first play of Friday’s game against Danville but somehow managed to play the rest of the game at linebacker/fullback. He even went to film study Saturday and didn’t go to the hospital until Sunday when his mother, Kristi, decided something just was not right.
Turns out the Garrard senior had a fracture of his seventh cervical vertebra. That is the largest and most inferior vertebra and has a large sinuous process that protrudes toward the skin at the back of the neck.
Because of a shortage of hospital beds, he had to return home before coming back to Lexington Wednesday to see a specialist to determine what needed to be done.
The news was not what Kristi Short or her son wanted to hear.
“The news is not what we were prepared for. Upon review of today’s X-ray, it appears the bone and fragments have moved so much that his injury is now ‘unstable.’ The doctor actually asked if he had had another accident since we left the hospital Sunday,” Kristi Short said.
“What we do know is that he can’t have surgery until next Friday (September 3) due to bed/surgery room shortages.”
Luke Short posted on social media that the doctor told him he was “millimeters away from being paralyzed” and he would need a spinal fusion. He said it would be a three-month recovery period and six months before he would be back to “normal.” He asked for prayers for him and his family.
His brother, Trevor, posted that Luke would be in a “C collar” for three months and then face three months of physical therapy after that to get back to “normal life” finally.
“There’s a long road of recovery ahead of us and we could use all the prayers for a successful surgery and recovery,” Trevor Short posted.
Even after the recovery period, his mother said Luke will have “permanent” loss of mobility of his neck, possible change of voice, and future spinal surgeries “for years” even after his recovery time.
His mother asked for prayers that “no further damage is done” before his scheduled surgery and for his healing both physically and emotionally.
“I would like to thank the community and everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Their concern has truly given me a comfort through all of this,” Kristi Short said.
15 Responses
My thoughts and prayers go out to you. May God be with you thru all that you are going thru. May he give the Dr’s the knowledge and guidance as you have surgery.
Thanks for the update Larry. prayers to the young man and family.
Dear God hold this family in your arm. prayers for this young man.
Many prayers Vickie
Kristi, I did not have the pleasure of having Luke in my class, but I did have Trevor. I will be praying for Luke and your family. If there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask! “Hooper”
Very kind of you Cheryl. He obviously is a special young man
May the good Lord cradle you all in his arms until Luke is well again, recovered and thereafter! Prayers in abundance! When we can’t GOD CAN! Keep your faith!
I am with you Janice
Prayers for this young man and his family. I pray and hope his recovery is a speedy one. My sister had to have neck fused because of a work injury. She has been doing good for past 10 years. She goes to pain management twice a year now. Hope everything goes well.
Thanks for some encouraging words there Joann
Thoughts and prayers with this young man , his family and all those affected 🙏
hope we have an update in a few days for you
Prayers for u and ur family we serve a might God a. Turn things around . Praying for up letting spirit for u and ur family.
Absolutely Bobbie Jo
Praying for healing and success of surgery. Pray er s for all