AKRON — Highland football player Kory Wiita suffered a setback Wednesday afternoon after his breathing tube was removed.
According to a post by his father on the Web site CaringBridge.org, Dan Wiita said Kory’s diaphragm wasn’t strong enough to cough out any extra fluid from his lungs and they began to fill with fluid early Wednesday morning.
Doctors rushed to his intensive care room and Kory was put back on the ventilator and given sedatives after “8-10 hours” without the breathing device.
In a post at 2:04 p.m. Wednesday, Dan Wiita said Kory was sleeping under the influence of sedatives, but the family remains strong and is using lyrics from rock songs as inspiration.
The Highland senior injured his spine on the opening kickoff in the second half of the Hornets’ game against Cloverleaf on Friday.
Since his second surgery Monday afternoon at Akron Children’s Hospital to help stabilize three fractured vertebrae in his neck, the 17-year-old has been in good spirits. Dan Wiita said Kory, who has a “Never Quit” sign in his room, has flirted with nurses and always is asking questions about the medical machines that are by his bed.
Reached via e-mail, Dan Wiita declined to be interviewed for this story.
Donations to the Kory Wiita Benevolent Fund to help defray the cost of his medical care can be made at any FirstMerit Bank. Another account is active at the Cleveland Center Sun Center Federal Credit Union.
Highland (6-4) will play at Warren Howland on Friday in the first round of the Division II, Region 5 playoffs.
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@ohio.net.
