'06 CA RB Stafon Johnson (USC signee)

[ttk]

Promising update!!

According to the USC forums and some confirmation on ABCnews, Stafon is out of surgeries and expected to make a (hopefully) full recovery. If he can get a redshirt for this year he is expected to be able to come back next year and still play football. Absolutely amazing.

From the SC boards:

Here is the status:

Stafon is out of surgery and doctors are confident in his potential recovery. It's going to take some time before the healing process is complete but the prognosis is good.

Stafon had surgery for three things:

* Crushed vocal chord
* adam's apple
* torn muscles

The doctors took a break between surgeries during the day. He didn't require any transfusions during the surgeries and the doctors said he was "pretty strong" which helped limit the damage caused by the weight bar. Stafon was not able to talk at any point in the day after the accident.

if all goes well, the possibility is there for him to return to football next season.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Any truth to the rumors that Ty Willingham was seen sneaking out the backdoor of the weight room?


Yeesh. Here's to a quick and full recovery for Stafon.

 

[elliemae]

Man,that is terrible! Hope he has a 100% success in healing!

 

[Dryden]

Stafon Johnson (USC) weightlifting accident

USC Trojans' Stafon Johnson has surgery after weights mishap - ESPN

Johnson suffers extensive neck injuries

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson is unlikely to play again this season after a falling weight bar crushed his neck and larynx.

The senior who scored the No. 7 Trojans' go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago was bench-pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat.

Johnson was in critical but stable condition late Monday night after more than seven hours of surgery, said Katreena Salgado, a spokeswoman for California Hospital Medical Center.

He was treated for crushing injuries to his neck as well as severe injuries to his larynx, said the hospital's trauma medical director, Dr. Gudata Hinika. Stan Johnson, the player's father, told ESPN's Shelley Smith that his son needed a tracheotomy to enable him to breathe.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a source close to the family said surgeons worked to realign Johnson's larynx in hopes he will be able to use his voice.

It's unlikely Johnson will be able to play again this season, but his prognosis is good and doctors expect him to make a full recovery, Hinika said in a statement released by the hospital.

Cont'd ...

 

[jwinslow]

stafon has had a thread here for awhile

 

[scooter1369]

Everyone out here is just crushed by this news.

The pun gods are smiling upon you.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...

I always think in the back of my head if I run in to a jam, to roll the bar down my chest.

I've actually done that. I had an old torn rotator cuff act up and couldn't move the bar.

Over the chest, it's not too bad. Couldn't tip it because of my shoulder.

Once you get to the lower rib cage it hurts a lot. Over the soft tissue of the abdomen below that is absolutely brutal. Fortunately it wasn't too heavy or it might have crushed some organs.

Imagine how quickly 275lbs is going to drop. There is no chance in hell that spotter had any time to react and try and prevent the bar from falling on his neck.

Contrary to what you implied by your post, a 275lbs weight drops at the same rate as a 5lbs weight.

I hope smithlabs doesn't see this thread. His eyes will bleed.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Stafon Johnson suffers heartbreaking setback in comeback - Shutdown Corner - NFL? - Yahoo! Sports

Stafon Johnson suffers heartbreaking setback in comeback

One of the first rules of journalism of any kind is that you must remain objective. You can't get emotionally wrapped up in the people you talk to, because it will generally affect your coverage in a negative fashion, and it can bring your credibility into question in serious cases. However, there are those rare people you meet along the way who make objectivity an impossible exercise. Former USC and current Tennessee Titans running back Stafon Johnson(notes) is one of those people. I first interviewed Johnson for the Washington Post before the draft, after I did a piece on Travelle Gaines, his personal trainer.

When I talked to Johnson in early March, he was about six months removed from the terrible accident that almost claimed his life. On September 28, Johnson was lifting weights at the USC facility, and a barbell with 275 pounds stacked on it slipped. The bar came down and crushed his larynx, and Johnson had to undergo emergency surgery. He had a breathing tube through most of October, and doctors told him that he could have died had his neck muscles not been so well-developed. Few expected Johnson to make a comeback that included the NFL, but Johnson started working with Gaines, got his strength back, and got on with the Titans as an undrafted free agent.

Johnson was making tracks in his first preseason game on Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks, gaining 23 yards on three carries, until his right leg was trapped underneath him on a swing pass at the end of the third quarter. Johnson went down and stayed down as the cart came out to take him off the field. Johnson's right leg was placed in an air cast, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll (who coached Johnson at USC) came out to talk to the young man. The entire Titans team came out on the field to pray as Johnson was loaded onto the cart. Everyone knew what was at stake, and what Johnson had gone through to get there.

Contd....

 

[NFBuck]

Man, that really sucks. He seems like a good kid. Hopefully he makes it back and catches on somewhere.

 

[Meyer]

Sad. Hopefully this kid keeps at it. Made one great comeback already..

 

[wadc45]

Former USC player Stafon Johnson sues school | abc7.com

Tennessee Titans running back Stafon Johnson (13) runs the ball during practice on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo / Mark Humphrey)

Lisa Hernandez

EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A weightlifting accident more than a year ago nearly ended the life and college career of former USC running back Stafon Johnson. Now, he's suing the school.

A news conference is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Student athletes said they are shocked to hear of the lawsuit.

"You know your responsibilities. Before you go underneath the weightlifting machine, you know you have to have a spotter," said Peter Yobo, a USC football player. "We have great trainers who only want us to get better, stronger, faster, so I don't see why you'd want to sue USC."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

It all stems from the September 2009 accident in the weight room, when a bar loaded with 275 pounds fell on Johnson's neck, crushing his larynx.

The running back eventually recovered, but he was out the rest of the season.

The injury didn't prevent him from pursuing work in the pros. He was picked up by the Tennessee Titans last April as a free agent - a career jump that ended prematurely because of an unrelated ankle injury in the preseason.

 

[powerlifter]

Wow that's ridiculous.

 

[southcampus]

It really is sad. I feel bad for what happened to him but I think suing is sort of poor form.

 

[DaveyBoy]

another athlete that viewed the system as "owing him" and intends to collect in any way he can.

It's interesting because so many view the schools (NCAA) as the villain in college athletics because they "make so much money" off of the athlete. They frequently cite the university as exploiters. Meanwhile, this guy uses USC's facilities and exposure to build himself toward a hopeful NFL payday. It goes badly for him so he sues.

USC should counter-sue on the grounds that Johnson endangered others on the team when he used the weight equipment improperly.

 

[Tonyank]

jeez, people will sue over anything. I might sue the state next time i hit a deer.