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SANDY — An Alta football player is recovering after a brutal spinal cord injury suffered prior to the Hawks' 16-15 win over Sandpoint (Idaho) last week in Rexburg, Idaho.
Jalen Sutton, 17, sustained the injury during a game Friday, according to a GoFundMe* set up by his aunt, Cynthia Meier, on Monday. After being taken to the hospital, Sutton was diagnosed with a cervical spine injury involving the C4 and C5 vertebrae in his neck, his aunt said. Stansbury coach Eric Alder told KSL.com that the injury occurred during the Hawks' junior varsity game against Stansbury last Thursday.
Sutton was sent to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, where doctors performed surgery to relieve pressure on his spinal cord. The injury caused Sutton to lose "feeling and function in his arms and everything below his chest area," Meier said, but three days after the surgery, he regained feeling in his abdomen, both hands and feet, and some movement in his right arm, she said.
The senior wide receiver and defensive back is an only child and just three weeks away from his 18th birthday, his aunt said.
"The outpouring of support that our family has received has helped us stay strong through this traumatic event," Meier wrote. "This includes our family, friends, neighbors, schoolmates and teammates, school staff, as well as his co-workers. Thank you for your continued prayers."
Donations to the GoFundMe will go toward covering Sutton's medical bills "and the very long road to his rehabilitation," Meier said. The campaign had raised more than $23,000 by Monday afternoon.
"Jalen is a great young man," Alta principal Ken Rowley told KSL.com. "He is very respectful to everyone around him and works hard to meet the expectations that are placed upon him. He has shown and continues to show toughness, drive, and grit in everything that he does."
Alta head coach Alema Te'o told the Deseret News that the Hawks dedicated their win at Sandpoint, Idaho, on Saturday to Sutton.
"They're all committed to try to find ways to assist him in any way possible, whether financially or moral support," Te'o said. "Our kids are 100% behind him and family. We all want the same thing is for him to have a positive recovery and he can get up and do the normal things he's been doing his whole life."
Canyons School District released the following statement regarding Sutton's injury:
"Canyons District and Alta High are incredibly grateful for the medical personnel and coaches who quickly and professionally attended to the needs of a student who suffered injuries during last week's junior varsity football game at an opposing school," the statement read. "The Canyons Board of Education and Administration join the student's teammates, peers, teachers, and administrators in extending our heartfelt concern and support to the student and his family during this difficult time."
Alta (2-1) next plays at Maple Mountain at 7 p.m. MDT Friday. The Hawks' next home game is Friday, Sept. 30 against Lehi.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
Correction: This story has been updated to reveal that Sutton's injuries originally took place during Alta's junior-varsity game against Stansbury last Thursday.
