Do you believe in miracles? One community on Long Island sure does.
Smithtown High School West’s Connor Dubeau has made national headlines recently; doctors feared he would not be able to walk again after he shattered the C4 bone in his neck diving into Gilgo Beach waters just this past summer.
The near-fatal accident would bunch most student-athletes; but not Dubeau—who has his hopes set on returning to the ice, and just may soon get his wish.
Reports confirm the impact of the devastating blow left him temporarily paralyzed at the time. Fortunately, for Dubeau, his teammate Kevin Bonino had just become a lifeguard. He sprung into swift action, pulled his friend from the water and kept calm and maintained order while administering life-saving training.
Dubeau was rushed to the hospital thereafter, but relief was not immediate as tense moments were still a flurry. While his teammates fought their thoughts of putting a bow on his hockey playing career, doctors were more consumed with whether or not he could ever regain basic mobility.
A complicated surgery proved a success, when, only two days later, Dubeau mystified all onlookers by walking without inhibition. He spent only eight days total in the hospital before he was discharged and assigned to commence rehabilitation.
Dubeau is not cleared to skate yet, but these days, he’s at every practice, encouraging his teammates, and studying systems—all while manifesting the finishing touches of a real-world movie called his blessedly spared life.
Per CBS News, Dubeau has received encouraging messages from professional players throughout the National Hockey League, including his favorite player—former Montreal Canadien, Nashville Predator and New Jersey Devil P.K. Subban.
Subban told Dubeau to stay strong, and keep fighting.
As do we at The South Shore Press.