A former Edmonton hockey player who broke his neck during a college game in the U.S. has undergone surgery and is now listed in stable condition. Jesse Martin currently plays with the University of Denver and remains in a U.S. hospital after suffering the serious injury a couple weeks ago.
The 22-year-old former Spruce Grove Saint and member of the St. Francis Xavier High School hockey academy, was playing against the University of North Dakota Saturday night when he was body-checked.
Martin suffered three fractures of his C2 vertebrae. The six-foot-two player took the hit hard and was knocked unconscious. He initially did not have any feelings in his arms or legs.
Martin has been in a Minneapolis hospital since the accident. His father, Terry Martin, says Monday's surgery was successful at putting a screw into his vertebrae.
Terry says they are already seeing improvements.
"They were actually able to have him walk with some help towards another chair about four feet away and then he turned and was able to sit down," Terry told CTV News.
And it was an unforgettable moment for the Martin family.
"The only other moment that I can think of where the feeling sort of swept over me as a father was at the time when Jesse was born."
The surgeon treating Martin says he has a partial spinal chord injury and says patients typically recover very well.
"In Jesse's case he had a really significant central chord syndrome in that his legs were having problems where his feet were, which has resolved as of this morning, which is fantastic," said Dr. Alex Mendez.
Dr. Mendez says it's a starting point and expects the progression to continue.
"Now where that ends we don't know that's where it will be important that over the next six months to a year for him to have close follow-up and rehabilitation to make sure that possible thing that can recover will."
Dr. Mendez says they will keep Martin for the next seven to 10 days to make sure they have identified every possible injury or complication.
And following that, the doctor expects the 22-year-old will be able to head back to Denver.
With files from Dez Melenka
