ESPN has the latest on Stafon Johnson:
USC Trojans tailback Stafon Johnson is awake and communicating via writing and hand signals less than a day after emergency surgery to repair throat injuries from a weightlifting accident, according to a doctor at the hospital where he is being treated.
Dr. Gudata Hinika, the trauma medical director at California Hospital Medical Center, said Johnson is giving thumbs up signs and communicating in writing to his mother and teammates after undergoing a seven-hour surgery to repair a crushed neck and larynx.
While it appears Johnson’s recovery is assured, from the additional information now coming out, it appears that was not a certaintly last evening.
Stan Johnson, the player’s father, told ESPN’s Smith that his son needed a tracheotomy to enable him to breathe.
Hinika said a man of lesser stature would have died from the injuries, but the thickness of Johnson’s neck muscles helped him to breathe and probably saved his life.
Hinika said Johnson is expected to fully recover, but would not speculate on the recovery prognosis for Johnson’s vocal chords. It may take as long as six weeks before doctors even ask Johnson to attempt to speak, depending on factors such as swelling, he explained.
The doctors are trying to wean Johnson off a ventilator, and he is being fed through a tube in his stomach.
We’ll continue to monitor Johnson’s progress.
3:35 pm on September 29th, 2009
Get well Stafon. The Trojan Family is praying for you.
Fight On!
4:00 pm on September 29th, 2009
A lesser man wouldn’t have been lifting that much weight!!
4:03 pm on September 29th, 2009
Anybody know how much he was throwing up on the bar?
4:06 pm on September 29th, 2009
275 I think, I though the exact same thing, a lesser man wouldn’t be lifting that much!
5:02 pm on September 29th, 2009
You know, that quote is kinda crappy sounding and taken out of context. You makenit sound like he twittered that and was boasting. Kind of disrespectful.
6:36 pm on September 29th, 2009
Very misleading headline. This site is turning into ‘E News’ with the teases….get some class.
6:42 pm on September 29th, 2009
Where was the spotter?
9:44 pm on September 29th, 2009
Thanks for posting the updates so I didn’t have to google the story to find out what was happening
9:44 pm on September 29th, 2009
I have a great deal of sympathy for Stafon Johnson. I’m just glad he survived. I wish him well for his sake and that of his friends and family. That said, it’s too bad he plays for the single most overrated team in all of college football.
10:07 pm on September 29th, 2009
I heard O.J. was his spotter.
10:15 pm on September 29th, 2009
You need a spotter for that headline..
10:24 pm on September 29th, 2009
I see meat heads at the gym often, that bench with their thumbs on the inside of the bar, as opposed to the proper way. I guess that’s the cool way to do it, but I’ll stick to the old school, safe way. I’m not saying that that’s what he did, because I haven’t read the story.
12:24 am on September 30th, 2009
It will be interesting to find out what technique he was using and whether he was wearing gloves which would help with the bar slipping. This information needs to get out so that it can prevent future accidents.
8:08 am on September 30th, 2009
My prayers are with him….
teri in Nova Scotia
6:54 pm on September 30th, 2009
im am so sad abut wat happened he should have had a spotter no matter wat so my praayers are wit him 2
12:22 am on October 1st, 2009
He had a spotter.