Alex Mc Kinnon our thoughts and prayers go out to you.

broncsgoat said:
I have been searching and haven't found anything other than this tweet reporting this.
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Newcastle Knights back-rower Alex McKinnon has been told by doctors that he may never walk again following the horrific neck injury he suffered against the Storm.
A report by Nine News has revealed that the 22-year-old and his family have been informed that he will likely be a quadriplegic for the rest of his life.
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McKinnon told he may not walk again
 
I pretty much thought this was coming, I heard all the exact same things as when my friend was diagnosed. Even the whole "2 year" thing. Very sad news.
 
Terrible news man, feel like shit.
 
Update from Mark Affleck: To everybody posting,
MMM did a extensive interview and update regarding this.
Alex McKinnon has NOT been told he will be a quadriplegic!
He has been told that at this stage the diagnosis is quadriplegia.
At this stage his spine has been stabilised. His spinal cord is significantly damaged BUT was not severed.
The next step is flying him to the spinal unit in Sydney where they will begin looking at his spinal cord and how they can treat it.
The damage to his spinal cord at present is resulting in quadriplegia - but this is not to say that this is permanent. It may well be - but the Doctors are certainly not there at this point. They haven't even begun!
It was also made clear that the Doctors in these cases only talk to patients and family IN THE PRESENT - as the issues are serious and they can make no promises or guarantees - they don't get ahead of themselves and try to not let patients get ahead of themselves one way or the other. They are staying in the now.
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Thoughts to Alex McKinnon and family keep your head up. Also in regards to contract let's hope he is paid out in full like yoh Yeh. Also given some sort of thing long term career within nrl organization.
 
Firstly they said he MAY never walk again. Secondly they call a person a quad when they have damaged the vertebrae in the neck and lose some movement (not necessarily all) starting with C. It does not mean he will not have movement. It is likely he will regain some movement, possibly significant movement maybe a majority of movement hopefully all movement.
It's way to early to tell.
 
It's tragic news, but the fact the spinal cord wasn't severed offers a glimmer of hope.
As horrible as it may sound, the fact he's breathing on his own is great news.

My thoughts go to him and his family. I can only imagine their distress...
 
Porthoz said:
It's tragic news, but the fact the spinal cord wasn't severed offers a glimmer of hope.
As horrible as it may sound, the fact he's breathing on his own is great news.

My thoughts go to him and his family. I can only imagine their distress...
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Very true. If I remember my Grade 8 Biology, the higher you go up the spine, and the more severe the damage, it then starts to effect the muscular functions that are not done (exclusively) consciously, eg, breathing, heart beating etc. After all, those things are all done using the same electric pulses that would actuate, say, a bicep, and those messages have to travel down the spinal column, they just originate from a different part of the brain.

So that says to me (along with the movement in one arm) that there is a twinge of hope.
 
I believe I read today that he has some feeling / movement in both elbows, let's hope he can at least regain all movement in his arms, so he can have a decent life.
 
Devastating news for a guy of 22. He had so much more to offer in Rugby League but by the sound of his character he will have more to offer in other parts of life.
Lets hope this worst case scenario gives him the focus to prove the doctors wrong. He will have the drive to commit fully to rehabilition once he gets over the initial shock
 
Knights are talking about releasing a jersey with his name and number on it. I don't even particularly like the Knights but will definitely buy one if the proceeds go to him.
 
With all the attention around McKinnon does anybody remember Adam Ritson?

Forgot exactly how I got to know about this as I was only a baby at the time but Ritson was talked up as the next big thing in the game and was signed to a big money contract at Parramatta. 11 games in he suffered a head high tackle and was revealed he had a brain cyst and almost died from brain surgery and spent months in a rehab centre learning to walk, eat, talk etc again. Because of this he had to retire at 20.



He has regained his health miraculously and lives a normal life and works selling Rugby League merchandise I believe. Very inspiring story.
 
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