Rapid response from coaches and medical technicians from two schools is being credited with saving the life of Leavitt senior football player Adam Smith.
Smith, a two-way starter for the Hornets, suffered a shattered spleen during a game Saturday afternoon against Greely in Cumberland Center.
He remained in the intensive care unit Sunday afternoon at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
“They are closely monitoring him for internal bleeding and kidney function,” Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway said. “If he can make it through the next 24 hours without any problems, they think they can avoid surgery.”
Hathaway said doctors described the injury as a “Grade 5” splenic injury, the worst kind. It is characterized by complete rupture and is often fatal if not immediately treated.
Smith suffered the injury in the second half of the game, according to coaches, when he was struck in the abdomen by a Greely player who was playing the game with a cast on his arm.
After collapsing to the turf, Smith was helped to his feet and walked to the Hornets’ sideline, where he again went to the ground.
Marco Madison, an assistant coach for Leavitt, assessed the situation and summoned a doctor on the Greely staff. That caregiver, whose name was not immediately available, arranged for immediate transport to the hospital.
Smith was in serious condition upon arrival at the hospital, according to Hathaway. Assistant coach Chris Gray posted on social media that medical personnel “almost lost” Smith during transport.
Leavitt went on to win the game, 20-14, improving to 4-2 on the season.
Hathaway and several Leavitt players, including quarterback Levi Craig, D’Andre James, Julian Kirouac and Chad Morin, visited Smith on Sunday.
“He was in pain and cannot eat or drink anything yet, but was glad to have some visitors,” Hathaway said.
In the process of diagnosing the injury to Smith’s spleen, doctors also discovered a fractured vertebra in his lower back.
Coaches believe that he likely suffered that damage on a different play in the first quarter. Smith was checked and went back into the game.
Smith is expected to be hospitalized for at least a week.
“He’s one tough son of a gun,” Hathaway said.
Smith played an integral role as a junior linebacker on Leavitt’s 2014 Class C South championship team. He also was starting on the offensive line this season.
Playing with a cast on one’s arm is within the rules if it is properly padded. Coincidentally, Smith has played this season with a rubber cast after sustaining a broken wrist during summer basketball.
He also was featured in a September Sun Journal story for fighting through asthma to continue his football career.
koakes@sunjournal.com
Also read: The Hot Corner: Leavitt, Greely ready to save lives. Is your school? | Smith fights physical challenges to hit Leavitt opponents on nose
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