Tuesday, Oct. 07, 2008

Injured East St. Louis football player shows improvement

Linebacker taken off ventilator

ST. LOUIS -- East St. Louis football player Demond Hunt Jr. continued to show improvement Monday after suffering a serious head injury Friday during a game at Collinsville High School.

He was taken off a ventilator Sunday and was breathing on his own, according to a statement released Monday by physicians and nurses in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis.

"Demond's seizure Friday night was caused by a bleed in his head," hospital officials said. "Since then, the CT scans of his head have shown progressive improvement, and his overall condition continues to improve as well. Demond was extubated yesterday and is breathing on his own. He is becoming more responsive with each day that passes, and his speech is improving."

Hospital spokeswoman Beth Cross added: "The nurses and doctors told me that today he was answering simple questions such as 'What is your name?' and 'What year is it?' He can squeeze their hand and open his eyes."

Hunt, a 5-11, 190-pound linebacker, was injured late in the second quarter of Friday night's game, then suffered a seizure while on the Flyers' sideline shortly before halftime.

Hunt was taken to Anderson Hospital in Maryville then airlifted to Cardinal Glennon, where he was still listed in serious condition Monday.