Air Horns, shakers, and the loud cheers of the game fill the stadium as junior Tyler Story achieves his first catch of the season. The thrill of the leather ball clenched between his two palms give Tyler an overwhelming amount of pride. Within a few seconds the exhilaration darkens.
“It was the last thing I remembered; getting my first catch of the season,” Tyler said.
Within the first quarter, in the game against Gainesville Sep. 2, the quarterback’s helmet hit directly on Tyler’s kneecap and it hyperextended backward about 30-40 degrees. The only thing Tyler could remember was the excitement of his catch. But his dad, head football coach Kyle Story, knew what was coming.
“As I saw him catch it, I knew he was about to get hit,” coach Story said.
The following Saturday morning, an MRI showed two ligaments were torn. Tyler’s family made an appointment with Daniel Cooper, the orthopedic doctor of the Dallas Cowboys football team, the following Wednesday. In addition to two torn ligaments, Dr. Cooper saw the clotted artery that was preventing the blood from flowing to his foot.
“When we got there, he told me I had no pulse in my foot,” Tyler said. “Then when he looked at the CAT scan he said that there wasn’t any blood flowing at all and I needed immediate surgery.”
With the possible risk of losing a foot and the ability to walk again, Tyler was directed to the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas for an estimated hour or two hour-long surgery. Tyler’s surgery lasted six hours due to the long process in clearing the artery.
“I was lucky to keep my foot,” Tyler said, “which I shouldn’t have because we waited for five days without messing with it.”
After the surgery, Tyler was taken to ICU to insure the healing of his artery and ligaments. The following Saturday, he was released to go home.
“We’re waiting for the wounds to close up by themselves and knee surgery,” Tyler said.
The road to recovery is a long journey and in the end he may never play football again.
“I don’t care if he doesn’t play another game in his life,” Coach Story said. “I just want to make sure we do everything we can to get him to walk again.”
With the team’s recent title of district champions, Tyler watches from the sidelines.
“It’s hard to just lie in bed and watch my team be successful without me,” he said.
Tyler and his family use their time at home by becoming closer to God.
“We have faith in God and we know everything happens for a reason,” Tyler’s mom Teena Story said. “When you have faith with God and you believe God is in control then you will be at peace with the situation.”
Tyler says God has helped him discover new life lessons.
“I’ve learned to keep your faith in what happens and don’t give upon what you believe,” Tyler said.
While homebound, Tyler receives constant care from his mother.
“I’ve gotten closer to my mom because she’s here all the time for me,” Tyler said.
Along with the support of God and his family, members of the community worked together to organize fundraisers and benefits for the Story family. A recent benefit at the Nov. 4 football game included a silent auction of autographed sports items from local teams to NFL.
“It’s been heartwarming to see how many people really care in Decatur,” Story said. “It’s been neat to see who you can really count on as true friends.”
Tyler’s friends visit him about once or twice a week through his time of recuperation.
“That’s probably the most important thing in this type of situation,” junior and friend Erik Elder said, “because it’s always easier to get through a tough situation when you have your friends.”
Elder understands how tough his situation really is.
“I couldn’t even imagine how lonely and disheartening it would be,” Elder said, “but I would definitely stay positive and look to my friends for support, like Tyler’s doing.”
Tyler and his family wait for a knee surgery to repair the nerve damage and the torn ligaments. The intensive process in recovery showed Tyler a new perspective of himself.
“This experience has shown me that I was a tougher person than I thought I was,” Tyler said.
Tonight the Eagles take on Kennedale Wildcats in bidistrict playoff action in Saginaw at 7:30.
Check back with decaturjournal.com for additional stories on the football team as they hit the playoff field.