Family of High School Football QB With Brain Bleed Pleads for Prayers: A Pennsylvania town is joining together to pray for a miracle after a high school football player collapsed on the field Friday night and now faces a serious health issue.
Quarterback Mason Martin, 17, was apparently in the third quarter of a game when he fainted and was airlifted to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, reportedly sustaining a major brain bleed and a collapsed lung, WPXI-TV reported.
Martin reportedly collapsed after being hit or tackled; he continued playing but was subsequently spotted wobbling and staggering before collapsing.
Community residents went to Karns City High School in Karns City, Pennsylvania, on Sunday to pray and conduct a vigil while the high school senior fights for his life.
Martin’s parents, who are already dealing with his mom’s struggle with cancer, posted an appeal to Facebook, calling on people to pray for a miracle.
“Mason remains in critical condition with little change over the last 36 hours,” the Facebook post read, in part. “The truth is, we need a miracle. I’m not saying that to sound grim, but to let you know that we need the strength of your prayers.”
The family continued, “No one believes in this kid more than us, but he needs everyone’s strength and prayers. Right now, we have to wait for the swelling to go down to assess the extent of the damage to the brain.”
The family concluded the statement with a reference to Jeremiah 29:11, which reads (NIV), “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
Others mirrored this call for invocation on Martin’s behalf. Pastor Pete Sapp spoke during the event to encourage those in attendance to “pray for a miracle,” WPXI-TV reported.