Although September 11 has a national and often global significance for matters of terrorism, that date is also reminiscient of a moment in 2007 when Kevin Everett first moved his arms and legs, signifying to doctors and nurses that hope was far from lost. On September 9, 2007, during the opening week of the NFL, Everett was a tight end for the Buffalo Bills and during a kickoff return, he attempted to tackle the return man, Domenik Hixon. Suddenly and tragically, Everett fell to the ground motionless while the play finished. When team doctors rushed to his side, the diagnosis was quick and frightening: a cervical spine injury, the kind in which most recipients are permanently paralyzed.
But Everett surprised everyone, including his closest family members. On September 11, just two days after the incident, he moved his arms and legs, signaling a will to not only survive, but to walk again. Between September 9th and 11th, doctors had kept him under sedation in order to fully draft a conclusion about the seriousness of his injury. Dr. Barth Green, from the University of Miami, praised the use of hypothermic treatment through intravenous ice-cold saline, an approach used almost immediately after Everett was originally injured. Much to the joy and adulation of fans, Kevin walked onto his home football field on December 23, when the Bills were up against the New York Giants in their final home game. Not to play, of course, but to give a much needed boost of confidence to his teammates in the final moments of their season.
Today, Everett continues to lead a normal life, working as a motivational speaker and remarkable test case for doctors who are eager to understand his recovery. With the support of multiple physicians and the many resources they have for the rehabilitation of athletes, Everett sets the mark for success after an injury.
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