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| Blake Heffron has taken the first few steps on the long road to recovery from brain swelling. Dubuque athletics file photo by Mason Sterken |
By Patrick Coleman
D3sports.com
Blake Heffron, a sophomore wide receiver at the University of Dubuque, suffered a concussion on Saturday, Sept. 27, during the Spartans' game at Central, left the game, and could be not stabilized at the field.
Heffron, age 20, was taken by medevac to a hospital in Des Moines. Due to a brain bleed, his body shut down on the field, so they got him sedated, inserted a breathing tube, and flew him to the hospital.
Fortunately for Blake, the hospital had Tarek Radwan, M.D, on call. Radwan is an American Board Certified neurosurgeon from Cooperstown, New York, who just happened to be in Des Moines. His plan, according to Blake Heffron's father, John, was to wait. Often the treatment for the type of injury Blake received is to remove the skull and allow the swelling to subside.
But Radwan wanted to give Blake a few hours' time, to see if the swelling would subside without such an invasive surgery.
It did.
The following day, Sunday, Blake was able to record a video for his teammates letting them know he was OK. And his recovery continues, although the next number of days and weeks will be crucial in that recovery.
"So many people are praying for our son," John Heffron said. "He will tell you this is a miracle."
A crowdfunding campaign has been set up at GoFundMe to support Blake Heffron's recovery.