[Hoops] Gant suffers neck injury

Sophopmore Khaliq Gant was airlifted to Elmira after suffering a neck injury in practice yeaterday. SID Jeremy Hartigan sounds optimistic about his condition, but it's still a scary thing to have to read about. Cornell doesn't need another tragic injury to an athlete.

[www.cornellsun.com]

Definitely a scary thing to read about, and one I wish hadn't happened, but Paul Testa deserves a rare (for the Daily Sun from eLF users) compliment for his very well-written article (that is, assuming there wasn't a very similar press release put out by the SID).

With Gant out in a game Coach D said he didn't want to coach, Cornell got an emotional win over Columbia 81-59 in new york this afternoon.

Has there been an update to Gant's condition?

From AP this AM - still in the hospital. [sports.yahoo.com]

The Ithaca Journal is reporting today that Khaliq Gant's father has confirmed that there is hope that Khaliq will walk again, but that it is almost certain that his athletic career is over.

[www.theithacajournal.com]

peterg
http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060131/NEWS01/601310324/1002

Thanks.

Gant suffered a dislocation of the C-4 and C-5 vertebrae on Jan. 24 after diving for a loose ball during basketball practice at Newman Arena. He underwent a seven-hour operation Friday in which bone was taken from his hip to fuse together the two vertebrae before being stabilized by screws and plates...

Doctors told Dean Gant they are optimistic that through a slow, but continuous rehabilitation, his son will be able to walk again...

“He really has no movements. He can't wiggle his toes yet.”

First Boiardi, now this. Two horrible, horrible stories.

The CU athletics message board is now up and accepting well wishes for Khaliq: [cornellbigred.collegesports.com]

The Sun had a good piece today discussing Gant's rehab: [media.www.cornellsun.com]

I think this is mostly new:
[q]On Jan. 24, Khaliq suffered the dislocation of his C-4 and C-5 vertebrate when he collided with several other members of the men's basketball team in a practice drill. After a seven-hour surgery on Jan. 27 in which bone was taken from his hip to fuse the two vertebrate together, Khaliq was transferred to the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 2 to undergo rehabilitation. After nearly three weeks at this facility, he has regained movement in his arms, legs, fingers, and toes.[/q]