Maryland football offensive tackle Jordan McNair has received a liver transplant after being hospitalized last week following an organized team workout. On Monday, the program announced that McNair was in “critical but stable” condition, but withheld details on what led to his hospitalization, at the request of the McNair family.
To be with him every step of the way during his recovery, like any good parents would, Jordan’s parents will likely have to be away from work. As such, some parents of players on the Maryland football team have organized a GoFundMe page so that Jordan’s parents “may remain at [his] side while he recovers.”
“As his football family, we would like to provide Tonya and Marty [McNair] financial relief so that they can remain focused on Jordan’s recovery,” the page says. The goal of the fundraiser is $20,000. In just over one day, upwards of 150 people had helped raise more than $13,000.
McNair was airlifted to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center—which is part of the University of Maryland Medical Center—in Baltimore, the GoFundMe page says. He then “received a liver transplant and has been fighting for his life for the past week – and will continue to do so over the next several months.”
Here’s the full post from the GoFundMe page:
There are times, when you spend just a moment with an individual and think to yourself, “What a wonderful person.”
After meeting him, you quickly realize that Jordan McNair is an exceptional son, friend, teammate and human being.
Last week, Jordan was airlifted to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Without disclosing all of the details of Jordan’s medical condition, he received a liver transplant and has been fighting for his life for the past week – and will continue to do so over the next several months.
When friends inquired how they could help, Tonya and Marty asked only for prayers.
Many of us have witnessed Tonya and Marty’s strength and faith during this experience. This is something no parent should ever have to bear.
On her facebook page, one of Tonya’s favorite quotes is,
“It’s not how big or heavy your load, it’s the way you carry it.”
We are Jordan’s football family and want to help Tonya and Marty carry some of that heavy load.
Jordan’s recovery will be long. He will be in the hospital for several months and his parents deserve to be at his side throughout his recovery.
As his football family, we would like to provide Tonya and Marty financial relief so that they can remain focused on Jordan’s recovery. Our goal is $20,000. Every donation, no matter how big or small, is appreciated.
“We continue to keep Jordan in our thoughts and prayers and are grateful for the outpouring of support and best wishes from the Terp community,” Maryland Athletics said Thursday in a statement to Testudo Times.
In looking through the names on the list of donations on the page, it’s clear that support is coming far and wide. There are donations from Terp fans, players, alumni, and McDonogh families, among others.
The stated purpose of the fundraiser is to support the family.
The University of Maryland mandates that all students, not just student-athletes, have health insurance before each academic school year begins. In the case of student-athletes, the “University of Maryland Department of Intercollegiate Athletics strongly recommends that all student-athletes possess some type of individual health insurance coverage before participating in any practice, game, and/or competition,” per the athletic department’s website.
That said, the department of intercollegiate athletics does provide a medical insurance program for its student-athletes. It covers “injuries/illnesses/accidents resulting from the direct participation in the intercollegiate athletics program during the dates of the primary competitive season and designated off-seasons.” McNair’s incident, which occurred during an organized team activity, is covered under this policy.
Gavin Class, a former Towson football player whose career ended because of a heat stroke and subsequent liver transplant, tweeted his support Monday. “Fellow Heatstroke Liver transplant... please keep in prayers,” he said. There is research that shows that heat stroke—particularly in otherwise healthy young athletes—is a possible cause of liver failure, and in turn, liver transplants. However, the cause of Jordan’s hospitalization has not been announced by the team or the family.