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http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8352006/tulane-safety-devon-walker-hospitalized-suffered-broken-neck-collapsed-lung-hit
Tulane's Devon Walker breaks neck
Updated September 9, 2012

TULSA, Okla. -- Doctors say they will need to operate soon on Tulane safety Devon Walker, who is in stable condition after fracturing his spine in a head-to-head collision with a teammate during a weekend game in Tulsa.

Tulane University's athletics program said specialists treating Walker at a Tulsa hospital placed him in traction after Saturday's injury and are treating him for a lot of swelling to the neck.

"The current plan is for him to have surgery in the next one to two days," said the statement released late Saturday, hours after the New Orleans team opened the Conference USA portion of its schedule against Tulsa.

Tulane's team doctor, Greg Stewart, told The New Orleans Times-Picayune in a report published online Sunday that the player had some feeling in his arms and legs and that the possibility of paralysis was still unknown.
More...
Video at Link

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/09/08/tulane-safety-injured-in-head-to-head-collision-during-tulsa-game/
Doctors hope to operate soon on Tulane player who fractured spine
September 9, 2012

(http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/U.S./660/371/Tulane%20Player%20Hurt.jpg)
Sept. 8, 2012: In this photo provided by the University of Tulsa, Tulane's Devon Walker (18) and Julius Warmsley (92), center foreground, tackle Tulsa's Kenny Welcome during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla. (AP)


OKLAHOMA CITY –  Doctors say they will need to operate soon on Tulane safety Devon Walker, who is in stable condition after fracturing his spine in an apparent head-to-head collision with a teammate during a weekend game in Tulsa.

Tulane University's athletics program said specialists treating Walker at a Tulsa hospital placed him in traction after Saturday's injury and are treating him for a lot of swelling to the neck.

"The current plan is for him to have surgery in the next one to two days," said the statement released late Saturday, hours after the New Orleans team opened the Conference USA portion of its schedule against Tulsa.

The injury occurred on the final play of the first half. Tulsa was leading 35-3 and facing a fourth-and-2 with the ball at the 33-yard line on Saturday when the Golden Hurricane called timeout. Tulane then called timeout.

When play resumed, Tulsa quarterback Cody Green tossed a short pass to Willie Carter, who caught it at about the 28, and turned upfield. He was tackled around the 18-yard line, with defensive tackle Julius Warmsley and Walker sandwiching him and apparently smashing their helmets into each other.

More...

I'm hoping for the best possible outcome for Devon.   ::MonkeyAngel::

We all are, such a horrible tragedy. The one youtube video of son out there has a catch where he was pulled out of the sky and slammed. Shows him getting up and running to the sideline as if all is okay - to this day he says he can't remember getting up and running off the field. He had horrible headaches after it for over a year.

Son was just lucky that day, these hard hits in football take such a price at times. I am praying for Devon and his family. I am concerned there has been no word yet on if he's paralyzed for it appears he did not move and had a tracheotomy performed on the field?

I guess we'll know more after Devon's surgery and only time will tell the extent of the damage. I think we're finding out more and more even years later the damage to athletes is far more than originally thought.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8359038/unclear-tulane-safety-devon-walker-paralyzed-doctor-says
Devon Walker's spine stabilized
September 9, 2012

 TULSA, Okla. -- Tulane football player Devon Walker's fractured spine was stabilized in a three-hour surgery Sunday, though it's too soon to tell whether he will be paralyzed from the injury he suffered while making a tackle, the team's doctor said.

Dr. Greg Stewart, Tulane University's director of sports medicine, said Walker was in stable condition and was expected to stay in the intensive care until of St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa for the next few days.

"These kind of injuries take 24, 48, sometimes 72 hours to fully declare themselves," Stewart said before the surgery. "We don't know what the long-term implications and outcomes are going to be."

Stewart said he was with Walker on the field, in the ambulance and at the hospital on Saturday. He said Walker was put into a cervical collar and couldn't see much of what was happening, so Stewart explained what was going on. Walker was talking with doctors as he was being treated, Stewart said.
 ::snipping2::
Dr. Buddy Savoie said during a postgame news conference that Walker never completely lost consciousness and was breathing on his own.

"He was stable when we transported him," Savoie said. "I do not think, based on the information we have, his life was ever in danger."
 ::snipping2::

Video at Link

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/09/injured_tulane_safety_devon_wa.html
Injured Tulane safety Devon Walker has three-hour surgery to repair spine; time will tell on recovery
September 9, 2012

A day after Devon Walker broke his neck in Tulane’s football game at Tulsa, the Green Wave athletic department announced that Walker underwent a three-hour surgery to stabilize his spine on Sunday.

The statement released by the athletic department read:

“According to Tulane University's team physician Dr. Greg Stewart, Devon Walker underwent surgery this afternoon. In a three hour surgery at St. Francis hospital in Tulsa, neurosurgeons stabilized his spine. He is now in recovery and we anticipate Devon will remain in ICU for the next few days. He is in stable condition and it will be several days before we can assess his condition post-surgery.”

Walker's long term risk of paralysis is "unknown," Stewart said.
More...

Comments

I hope this young man will be ok.  I heard a news report that his mom was watching the game on tv when he was injured.  My heart aches for her. 

My little guy decided he didn't want play football this fall.  He is small for his age and last year he had his bell rung a few times.  I was relieved he didn't want to play this year.

http://atlantablackstar.com/2012/09/11/devon-walker-injured-tulane-player-showing-progress/
Devon Walker, Injured Tulane Player, Showing Progress
September 11, 2012

Tulane University safety Devon Walker, who suffered a broken neck against Tulsa on Saturday, was “alert and responsive,” when addressed by family and friends on Monday, according to Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson.

Walker was transported to St. Francis Hospital, where on Sunday he underwent three hours of surgery to stabilize his spine. Tulane team doctor Greg Stewart told ABC the procedure was “very successful.”

“[The paralysis potential] is certainly a concern,” Stewart told the Tulsa World, “We don’t know what the ultimate outcome is going to be.”

As with any severe spine injury, hours are long and dicey and reveal frustratingly little. It will be days or weeks before Walker’s prognosis is determined. He remains in stable condition in the ICU, with significant swelling around his spine. But late on Monday, Dickson shared a touching story on a Tulane conference call.

Although Dickson could not give much in the way of a medical update, he said Devon “has not lost his sense of humor.”
 ::snipping2::
A Tulane website for Walker has been flooded with messages of support. Walker’s parents, Booker and Inez, released a statement saying, “We have been overwhelmed by the amount of concerned well wishes we have received from all over the world. Although we cannot respond individually to all, we thank everyone for the love and support shown to Devon and our family. The medical care that our son has received so far has been outstanding.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/09/11/devon-walker-eric-legrand.ap/index.html
LeGrands reach out to family of hurt Tulane player
September 11, 2012

 ::snipping2::
Eric LeGrand injured his spine in 2010 while making a tackle during a game against Army. He was paralyzed below the shoulders. Karen LeGrand, who lives in New Jersey, was at that game at MetLife Stadium. She said she quickly sensed something was very wrong when Eric didn't immediately get up.

While she wasn't able to be next to Eric while he was being attended to by trainers and doctors, she was able to get onto the field as he was being placed in an ambulance.

"To not even be in the same location, to be hundreds of miles away, has got to be a horrible feeling," she said. "It's got to be the worst feeling ever."

Karen LeGrand said she has reached out to the Walkers through Tulane and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

The Reeve Foundation raises money for research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. It was founded by the late Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed in an accident at an equestrian competition in 1995, and his wife, Dana.

Karen LeGrand said she wanted to get word to the Walkers that they were praying for Devon, and that she and Eric would make themselves available to help in any way they could. She hasn't heard back from Inez Walker, but she's not surprised.

"When I was in the same situation, everybody is reaching out and it's wonderful, but myself, I really didn't want to talk to anybody," she said.

"When she's ready to reach out, I'll be here."
 ::snipping2::

http://www.examiner.com/article/fund-set-up-for-hospitalized-tulane-player
Fund set up for hospitalized Tulane player
September 11, 2012


With the support being shown by the Tulsa community for Tulane football player Devon Walker, a fund has been set up by the University of Tulsa for donations to be made for his family.
 ::snipping2::
Fans who wish to do make any donations to help Walker with medicals costs can do so by sending a check made payable to The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Club with “Devon Walker Fund” noted in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to The University of Tulsa, Attn: Golden Hurricane Club, 800 S. Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104.

If you live in Tulsa, you can drop off checks at the at the TU Athletic Director’s Office in Mabee Gym at the corner of East 8th Street and South Florence Avenue.

Funds will be used to help the Walker family alleviate expenses incurred during their stay in Tulsa.

Tulane University has also set up a website in support of the Walker family. You can make a financial donation and post get-well messages at http://tulane.edu/devonwalker/.

Donations also can be made to The College Football Assistance Fund at www.CFAFund.org. CFAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to support those who have sustained serious injuries through college football.

::MonkeyAngel::

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/tulane-player-devon-walker-to-be-moved-while-therapy-for-spinal-injury-continues/2012/09/17/18a33242-0131-11e2-bbf0-e33b4ee2f0e8_story.html
Tulane player Devon Walker to be moved while therapy for spinal injury continues
September 17, 2012

TULSA, Okla. — Tulane officials say seriously injured football player Devon Walker will be moved to a new facility within the next two days as he continues therapy for his fractured spine.

Walker has been in St. Francis Hospital since he was injured during the Tulane-Tulsa game on Sept. 8.

Tulane spokesman Roger Dunaway says Walker is “alert and actively participating in respiratory and other therapies that are part of his recovery.”
 ::snipping2::

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/09/tulane_football_team_kicks_off.html
Tulane football team kicks off game week preparation with injured safety Devon Walker heavy on its mind
September 18, 2012

 ::snipping2::
This is the first time this season where the team will be preparing for a game without senior safety Devon Walker, who remains in a Tulsa, Okla., hospital after breaking his neck making a tackle in the Tulsa game Sept. 8.

There is no way to erase Walker out of their minds -- in fact, some of this week is about trying to find a way to honor him in Saturday’s 11:05 a.m. game against Ole Miss in the Superdome.

“They have requested about 30,000 things to do,” Coach Curtis Johnson said of player requests to honor Walker. “We are in the process right now of deciding what exactly we are doing. I just want input from everyone on the team. We are gathering the information, I have my ideas but they are superseding me.”
 ::snipping2::
Tulane's team physician, Dr. Greg Stewart, said told the media in Tuesday’s weekly luncheon that the family did not want specific information released regarding Walker’s injury or recovery.

Other saying Walker will be transferred to a undisclosed in-patient comprehensive rehabilitation center sometime soon and that he continues to get therapy, nothing else is being released on his condition.

“If the family were to allow us to give the information, we’d be happy to, we’d be standing here having a whole different conversation potentially but right now … the family has asked we honor their privacy,” Stewart said.

The family’s stance, Stewart said, is not based on anything medical milestones or prognosis.

“I don’t have the impression (the silence) is necessarily medically related per se. I think it’s just, they have kind of circled the wagons, it’s their family. … When it is your family, you kind of deal with your family and then when it’s resolved then, OK, we’d be happy to go tell the neighbors. But what happens within my house stays within my hosue. I think that’s some of what’s going on right now.”

Walker’s close friends have been in touch with the family but have still not had the opportunity to talk to Walker directly though Stewart said he expects the players to have more contact with Walker in the future.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/19/3359716/devon-walker-ole-miss-tulane-helmet-decals
Ole Miss Will Support Devon Walker With Decals
September 19, 2012

Tulane Green Wave defensive back Devon Walker suffered a serious spinal injury in a game against Tulsa on Sep. 8. Walker has received plenty of support as he begins his rehabilitation. The latest well-wishers are the Mississippi Rebels, who will sport "DW" helmet decals in support of Walker in their game against Tulane.
 ::snipping2::


(photo of decals in article at above link)

http://www.collegeclasses.com/fundraising-increases-for-injured-tulane-university-athlete-devon-walker/
Fundraising Increases for Injured Tulane University Athlete Devon Walker
September 27, 2012

 ::snipping2::
On Saturday, news was released that the collision had fractured Walker’s cervical spine – which basically means that it broke his neck – and he needed to go into surgery. It was important, however, that Walker receive support for this next step, and according to the executive vice president for university relations, Yvette Jones, “We started talking on Saturday about what we can do. I think when people just wanted to start offering well wishes, that was when we said ‘get a website up and going’”.
Showing Their Support

By Saturday evening, the new page of the university’s site was already up, and it received more than 80,000 visitors each day; a big number compared to the 30,000 visitors who normally visit the site in a day. After only 4 days, the page had raised over $40,000. An account was set up by Capital Bank One, and it can be accessed via the site itself.

People are not only looking to provide moral support to the family; the family is also receiving cards, emails and there have been requests to meet the family and Walker himself. Relatives of Eric LeGrand also recently contacted the Walker family to show their support. Eric LeGrand was a Rutgers football player who suffered the same injury in 2010.
The Costs Associated with this Type of Injury

According to Coach Curtis Johnson, the Walker family is getting assistance from everywhere in the world, and the donations are going a long way to assisting the family in doing what needs to be done during this difficult time. While Walker’s medical bills will be covered by the insurance policy of the athletics department, as many who have gone through this situation know, there are often many more expenses which are faced by the family and yet not covered by insurance. As Johnson puts it, “The family is going to need some help, some means to do some things. On Tulane’s behalf, they have done everything they could have done.”

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/10/post_20.html
Tales of Tulane kindness: the community continues to raise money for Devon Walker Fund
October 11, 2012, Updated October 12, 2012

Tulane University's Devon Walker Page
http://tulane.edu/devonwalker/index.cfm

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/10/17/3517484/tulane-update-devon-walker-safety-injured
Tulane provides update on injured safety Devon Walker
October 17, 2012

Tulane safety Devon Walker, who was seriously injured in the Green Wave's game at Tulsa on Sept. 8, has been moved to an in-patient rehabilitation center to continue recovery efforts from a spinal injury. Both the Walker family Devon himself have issued updates on Devon's condition:

Thank you everyone for your prayers and well-wishes. This has been so hard on my family and friends. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for your generosity and support. I especially want to thank everyone who sent cards and letters. I read each and every one. They give me the inspiration to keep on pushing. Your words of encouragement are helping me so much. Thank you also to those who organize, attend and contribute in countless ways to the many fundraisers being held in my honor. I am truly blessed. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. -- Love You All, Devon Walker #18
 ::snipping2::

Walker and his family have moved to a new location as of Sept. 18, but asked in the statement that the specific center not be disclosed due to privacy concerns. Walker is a New Orleans native who played Destrehan High School, just miles from Tulane.

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/11/tulane_to_host_comedy_fundrais.html
Tulane to host comedy fundraiser for injured football player Devon Walker
November 4, 2012

Tulane University will host "Comedy for a Cause," a fundraiser for injured Green Wave football player Devon Walker at 9 p.m., Friday Nov. 9 in Dixon Hall on Tulane's uptown campus.

The show will feature stand-up comedians Carrey B., Red Bean and Mike Strecker.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4708494233. Walker broke his neck in an accidental collision in a football game Sept. 8 in Tulsa.

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/11/tulane_safety_devon_walker_get.html
Tulane safety Devon Walker getting birthday wishes on Thursday
November 29, 2012

The Tulane athletic department collected a host of birthday cards made this week for Injured Tulane safety Devon Walker and sent them to Walker to celebrate his 22nd birthday Thursday. Walker broke his neck on Sept. 8 after colliding with teammate Julius Warmsley right before halftime in a game against Tulsa.
 ::snipping2::
Close to 100 birthday wishes were left for him on his Facebook page and a flurry of Twitter well-wishes were also made Thursday.

Even football Coach Curtis Johnson got in on it via Twitter: "Help us wish Devon Walker a very Happy Birthday!!" he wrote.

There are no official updates on his condition.

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2012/12/tulanes_devon_walker_is_home_f.html
Tulane's Devon Walker is home for Christmas
December 25, 2012

Devon Walker is home today. It has been a long way home and it the Destrehan native won't stay there - there is more work to be done in a rehab facility in Atlanta.

But he is home for Christmas.
 ::snipping2::

To donate to Devon Walker's fund, go to http://tulane.edu/devonwalker/.

More...

http://www.thehullabaloo.com/news/article_53c9157c-6634-11e2-8e82-0019bb30f31a.html
Saints surprise recovering Devon Walker
January 24, 2013

Three months after his injury, senior safety Devon Walker left his rehabilitation center and returned to his New Orleans home for the holidays.
Before going home, however, he celebrated his 22nd birthday with a surprise visit by the Saints football team. Coaches and players on the New Orleans Saints visited Walker, including Quarterback Drew Brees.
 ::snipping2::
The Walker family continues to maintain its privacy. The extent of Devon’s injury and the location of his rehabilitation facility have still not been released.

http://www.npr.org/2013/09/06/219692801/back-at-school-injured-player-fights-on-after-fateful-tackle
Back At School, Injured Player Fights On After Fateful Tackle
September 6, 2013

When Devon Walker returned to the Tulane University campus last week, he was greeted with kisses in the hallways. Students and faculty applauded him.

One year ago this weekend, in the second game of the football season, Walker, a team captain for Tulane, went in for a tackle and broke his neck. He was paralyzed from the shoulders down.

For months, he recovered far from home in two different hospitals. But now he's back in Louisiana and re-enrolling at Tulane, in New Orleans.
 ::snipping3::
A year later, the football team still prays for Walker's recovery while Walker himself is working for it. He's bound to a wheelchair. Just leaving the house in the morning takes 90 minutes and the help of a nurse.

Still, three days a week, he's at a rehabilitation center at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, pushing his therapists to push him.

"I'll put it this way: Sometimes I need a break before Devon needs a break," says Holly Pellerito, Walker's occupational therapist. She worries that Walker might be trying to do too much, too soon.

But this young man has goals. He wants to graduate, with a degree in cell and molecular biology, in the spring. And physically, there's at least some reason for hope. In Walker's arm muscles, Pellerito says, there's twitching.
"So there's something there. There's some connection being made," she says. "So we're not gonna stop until we can try to make something functional."

The football team isn't giving up on Walker, either. Just before the season opener last week against Jackson State University, coach Johnson addressed his team. Then he introduced the player in the fresh, new No. 18 jersey, given to Walker just that night.

With that, Walker began to speak.

"There's not much I can say that hasn't been said already, and there's not much more that I can do that I haven't done already," he told the players. "The fact of the matter is, my days are up on playing football. Y'all days are still in front of you all."

Walker talked about where he had come from and where they might still go. He asked them to play that night as if they might never play again — to play hard always. And then they took the field.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tommytomlinson/2013/11/28/tulanes-devon-walker-my-sportsman-of-the-year/
Tulane's Devon Walker: My Sportsman of the Year
November 18, 2013

http://www.wwltv.com/news/A-ray-of-hope-Once-paralyzed-photographer-draws-inspiration-from-Devon-Walker-236036811.html
A ray of hope: Once paralyzed photographer draws inspiration from Devon Walker
Posted December 18, 2013, Updated December 19, 2013

(http://i.imgur.com/HDWFBVw.jpg)

In November 2013 the Regional Emmy Awards honored WWL-TV for a story produced on Devon Walker, an injured Tulane Football player. The story was produced by Reporter Juan Kincaid and photographer Brian Lukas. Drawing an assignment for a news photographer is mostly a game of chance, who is available and unassigned to another story. Most photographers at WWL were assigned to Super Bowl stories in February 2013. Brian Lukas was assigned to accompany Juan Kincaid on a non-Super Bowl story of Devon Walker. The story was a moving experience for Juan and Brian, but especially for Brian, who had fought some of the same battles Walker is going through now.

Story and photos...