(STATS) – Wofford has experienced two potentially life-threatening injuries to its linebacking corps this season, and the Terriers have gotten relatively good news once again.
John Patterson is back on the Spartanburg, South Carolina, campus after being released from the hospital on Wednesday, four days after he suffered a fracture of the C6 vertebrae in his neck during a loss to The Citadel. He had surgery to fuse several vertebrae Sunday, and instead of the potential of being paralyzed, is on the road to recovery.
“God has truly blessed me,” Patterson said. “I am thankful for all of the support and well wishes that I have received. The doctors told me that the bone was a millimeter away from causing paralysis. I am truly thankful for the miracle and that God was watching over me on the field. All of my family, coaches, teammates, classmates and professors here and back home have been giving me tremendous support. The extensive amount of people reaching out to me has given me strength and encouragement. I am hopeful for my future and staying positive.”
Patterson’s injury came six games after fellow linebacker Michael Roach collapsed on the field during the season opener at Tennessee Tech. Roach went into cardiac arrest on the sidelines and stopped breathing for about 45 seconds. He was later diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which enlarged muscle cells in the heart cause the walls of the ventricles to thicken and prohibit the flow of blood. There’s typically about a five percent survival chance, but Roach is now an unofficial Terriers assistant after having a defibrillator implanted.
Mike Ayers’ team, which is 4-3, hosts Mercer on Saturday.
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