By: Nick D’Amore
MONROE A Monroe High School football player sustained serious injury to his spinal cord during the first game of the season Saturday.
Sean Denehy, a 16-year-old junior, suffered two fractures of his cervical spine following the opening kickoff of the second half, when Sean was hit in a "freak occurrence."
"He was in good hitting position," said head coach Jim Griffin. "His neck was squared, his head was properly positioned on his shoulders and his tail end was low."
According to statement released by the hospital Monday, Sean sustained a C-5 vertebra and C-6 vertebra fracture dislocation of his cervical spine, located in the neck.
He has had two surgeries, the first was in the emergency room, "a closed reduction of his fracture dislocation, which corrected the alignment of his vertebrae and maximized the space for his spinal cord," said Steven Reich, one of Sean’s lead orthopedic surgeons at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, in the statement.
Upon arrival, Sean had "no function of the left leg, some function in his right leg and minimal function in his arms," said Dr. Reich in the statement.
Sean is currently undergoing rehabilitation at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, after having had a second operation Tuesday.
"Although he sustained a devastating injury, I am hopeful that he will have significant neurological improvement," Dr. Reich said in the statement.
Mr. Griffin said Sean "got run over" by an opposing player who was carrying the ball for the opposing team, North Burlington. However, that was not what caused the injury, said Mr. Griffin.
"As he was falling back, he hit his head on somebody’s leg or knee and that was most likely the cause of the fractures," he said.
Mr. Griffin said a doctor was present and immediately ascertained the possibility of a neck or spine injury.
"We treated it as fact," he said.
Mr. Griffin said the doctor organized trainers and EMT staff and kept Sean’s head immobilized.
"It was a very quick, very specific series of movements. The doctor was exceptional," he said.
Sean is a noseguard on the team.
Sean’s parents, Paul and Ellen, are not speaking to the media, but issued a statement attached to the press release from the hospital.
"This has been a very trying time for Sean and our family. With the continued support from all, we are hopeful Sean will make a full and complete recovery."
Some of Sean’s teammates have been visiting him at the hospital, where he is in good spirits.
"We saw him Monday night. He was very optimistic. He’s going to be fine," said senior Keith Hackett.
"We were devastated when it happened. It was tough. We had to play the second half not knowing what happened to him," he said
Monroe ended up losing the game 33-0, for which Sean "got on them," said Mr. Griffin.
"He gave them his own ‘Gipper’ speech," he said.
"We know he would want us to concentrate on the game," said Keith. "We want to go to the hospital and give him better news than we did last week (after the loss)."
"This year, the team is like a big family. This has brought us even closer together," he said.
Mr. Griffin said the hardest part is coming for Sean: the rehabilitation process.
"He continues to improve. Everyone is optimistic and hopeful. He got good treatment, and he got it fast. Everyone is confident he’s going to come back and be a normal kid. But the recovery is going to be lengthy. It’s not going to be short."
Mr. Griffin said the players "were much like Sean recovering. They’re on his team right now."
He said some players were worried about playing this Saturday, after witnessing Sean’s injury.
"Everyone who’s ever played knows this can happen. But, they also know it’s freaky thing. The hard part is for the kids to come back," he said.
"This is the one accident you try not to think about. It chills the team when something like that happens. There’s got to be a certain residue of doubt. But it was just one of those freaky things, a one-in-a-million thing. I imagine it will take a few days of practice, or a game or two to get right. But I’m pleased with the way the kids have responded so far," said Mr. Griffin.
"He’s an overachiever. He’s a small player who plays bigger than his body," he said. Sean is 5-feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds.
Ken Weingartner of the packet group contributed to this story.

