Blood
Doctors managing Mason Martin’s blood pressure
Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School quarterback Mason Martin is still recovering after collapsing during a game Sept. 1 and being rushed to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
Doctors are using pain medications to control Mason Martin’s blood pressure so they can assess the damage to his brain.
A Sunday, Sept. 10, Facebook post by Mason’s father, Denny Martin, said doctors have to be careful to provide Mason’s brain with enough blood to recover, but not so much as to cause a stroke.
Denny Martin said on Thursday, Sept. 7, that the next critical step in his son’s recovery will be for 17-year-old Mason to open his eyes. Once the swelling in his brain goes down, doctors will be able to perform conclusive tests, including an MRI, to assess his condition, Denny Martin said.
The post Sept. 10 didn’t say whether Mason had opened his eyes yet, but Denny Martin said doctors had to stabilize his vitals during a spike. Respiratory issues are common with trauma similar to what Mason experienced; but he may also be suffering from pneumonia or a pulmonary embolism, according to his doctors.
Mason, Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School’s quarterback, collapsed during the third quarter of a game with the Redbank Valley Bulldogs on Sept. 1 at Karns City Area School District’s Diehl Stadium. He was taken from the field by ambulance and then transported by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Since then, numerous people have sent Mason and his family cards, and they packed the Diehl Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 3, for a prayer vigil supporting him.
A GoFundMe account for Mason and his family surpassed its $50,000 fundraising goal by Wednesday, Sept. 6.
