A North Carolina University student who won a scholarship to play baseball has had to have his leg amputated just weeks before starting college.
Parker Byrd, 18, who only graduated from high school in June was involved in a boating accident last month and had to have his right leg amputated below the knee after suffering serious injuries to his legs in the accident.
But now he has received the dreadful news that he must undergo a further operation on the same leg with doctors needing to cut away even more of his leg – this time above the knee.
In the days following the July 25th accident, Byrd landed in intensive care.
Parker Byrd, 18, was involved in a boating accident on July 25 while out tubing
The rope pulling the tube became caught up with the boat’s propellor and sliced his legs. Family and friends have been to his hospital bed to support him
Byrd is pictured using a zimmer frame having undergone an amputation earlier this month
He was one of two people tubing on Bath Creek when he fell off his rubber innertube.
Just as Byrd was approaching the boat towing him, which was supposed to be in neutral, the ski rope pulling the tube got caught up in the propeller and pulled Byrd towards the boat.
The propellor sliced Bryd across both of his legs leading to serious, irreparable damage.
He had to be airlifted to the ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville where he has remained ever since.
His mother, Mitzi Lee Byrd, explained how muscles in his leg had to be reattached but knew that ultimately he would have to undergo several operations.
Almost one month on from the accident, Byrd has now had to undergo 13 operations.
Byrd has since undergone 13 operations on his legs including the right one being amputated
Doctors now say they must now amputate above the knee in an operation to be carried out on Friday
‘This all still seems so surreal, like a bad nightmare I’m waiting to wake up from. I know we will get thru it but I still can’t believe it’s reality,’ his mother tweeted.
Byrd, who was about to start college life as a freshman at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, had received a scholarship to play baseball.
He had been a standout player on his local baseball team, the South Charlotte Panthers
‘We can not begin to express our gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and prayers,’ mom, Mitzi, wrote. ‘From calls, texts, messages, cards, care packages, donations and meals. We’ve had friends to drive hours to just visit with us for 15 mins. We’ve had pastors make multiple trips just to pray with us.’
Byrd’s next surgery is scheduled for Friday when more of his right leg will be amputated.
‘Once the final surgery is done, he will be able to start rehab,’ his mother Mitzi wrote on Facebook.
Once the surgery is complete, she says her son is expected to be discharged to an apartment in Greenville where he will continue treatment until the wound heals. He will then begin rehabilitation.
Byrd was due to enroll as a freshman at East Carolina University on a baseball scholarship