ENGLEWOOD — University of Denver senior Jesse Martin outlined his goals for recovery Tuesday and reiterated his appreciation he was alive, able to walk and making such a dramatic recovery from suffering fractures in his neck.
Speaking at a news conference at Craig Hospital, Martin thanked his DU hockey teammates, family and friends for giving him the motivation to believe he would recover after fracturing his C2 vertebra in a game Oct. 30.
“Throughout this whole process, as hard as I was fighting, the support I got from my teammates . . . was unbelievable,” said Martin, who walked into the news conference wearing a metal halo brace. “You know you’re really a part of a strong support system that means the absolute world to you. Without that, there’s no chance. There is absolutely zero chance to be where I am today.”
Martin made special mention of Pioneers trainer Aaron Leu, and the help he has provided, saying, “You couldn’t ask for a better guy to have on your team.”
Martin suffered a concussion and three fractures to his C2 vertebra in a game against North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. He had surgery Nov. 8 to stabilize the vertebra in St. Paul, Minn. He was transferred Monday to Craig, the fourth hospital where he has been treated since the injury.
Sitting between his father, Terry Martin, and DU coach George Gwozdecky, Martin talked about how frightened he was laying on the ice, unable to feel his extremities, but how comfortable he became over the ensuing 10 days with the care he was receiving at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
Martin has complete use of his legs, and the numbness in his arms has lessened over the past three days. He almost has full feeling in his fingertips.
“It’s a miracle to me that he survived, first of all, because he’s in that 1 percent club to survive, but then to see the trajectory of his recovery is unbelievable — ahead of most everybody’s projections,” Terry Martin said. “Five days ago, he could not move his arm, could not move his hand — could not find his hand.”
Terry Martin said his son might be allowed to return to his DU-area condominium he shares with teammate Luke Salazar and begin outpatient therapy Saturday. At the end of the month, Jesse hopes to return to the family home in Edmonton, Alberta, and then return to DU in January and complete the school year.
“My passion and focus is on the rehabilitation process,” he said. “I’m going to get better, get back to as close to a normal life as I can. . . . One step at a time right now.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
