Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

13-Year-Old Boy Might Be Paralyzed After Injury During Pop Warner Game

football_on_field.jpg
Photo by ElvertBarnes via Flickr

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Football can be a dangerous sport, but we usually figure that the serious bumps and bruises are limited to those who play for the pros.

Yesterday, though, a 13-year-old boy proved that the game has risks at every level -- CBS News reports that during a Pop Warner match-up, Donnovan Hill of Mission Viejo fractured his spine after taking a hit to the head. Doctors worry that he may face paralysis.

Hill is a star running back for a team called the Lakewood Lancers. His mother, Crystal Dixon, says that Hill is putting on a brave face as he waits to undergo surgery at Mission Hospital, and that he and the local community is praying that doctors can repair his injury.

Hill was reportedly being recruited by private schools.

A fund has been set up to help the family, and donations can be made to:

Orange Empire Conference
c/o Donnovan Hill
PO Box 7652
Huntington Beach, CA 92615

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today