Devastating injury for MN hockey player hurt during game in Vancouver
(FOX 9) - Jackson Drum’s aunt says her nephew, like many Minnesota kids, was obsessed with hockey from a young age.
"Since he was walking, skates were not far behind," says Emily Haeg Nguyen. "It is his passion."
But now, the 17-year-old is in a Vancouver hospital following a major spinal cord injury during a game. So far, he’s unable to breathe on his own and has no feeling in his arms and legs.
"My sister has said a few times I feel like I’m in a nightmare," says Emily, "And that’s exactly how I would describe it, just devastation."
A love of hockey and hopes for a future in the game
The backstory:
Jackson Drum had a passionate devotion to hockey from a young age, playing youth hockey in Alexandria and then for Alexandria High School, starting on the junior varsity team.
This fall, he enrolled in the Coeur D’Alene Hockey Academy in Idaho, where he is a high school junior and boasts a 3.8 GPA.
He hoped to earn a college scholarship and perhaps one day become a coach.
A very scary night in Vancouver
What we know:
On Friday, Jan. 24th, Jackson was playing in a tournament in Vancouver when he was sent headfirst into the boards, shattering his neck and stopping his heart.
First responders resuscitated Jackson on the ice before taking him to Vancouver General where he underwent surgery on Saturday.
"The doctors in Vancouver have prepared my sister and Jason for the possibility that Jack may not walk again, may not be able to use arms and may not breathe on his own," Emily told FOX 9.
"We have a lot of hope, he’s still recovering from the surgery, there’s still a lot of swelling, but we'd anticipate a very long road ahead for him."
Hopes to bring Jackson closer to home
What's next:
Jackson’s parents immediately went to Vancouver, where they will be for at least a few weeks. Their three younger daughters are being cared for by other family back in Minnesota.
The hope is to move him to a hospital closer to home as soon as he’s stable, but the medical transport is costly.
A fundraising campaign on the website "GiveSendGo" had already surpassed $50,000 by Wednesday afternoon, but there are so many unknowns about the costs that lie ahead.
Unknowns, too, about Jackson’s recovery as they wait for the swelling to subside. But his aunt, Emily, says Jackson is so determined in everything he does that she has faith he’ll work hard at this, too.
"Whatever physical improvement is possible in his case, he will get there because he is a determined kid. I’ve never seen him let anything stop him."