ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — St. Louis Park High School senior Deon Sewharack is built tough, just like his teammates on the Orioles football team.
However, in the last two weeks, the 17-year-old has had to stand on the strength of his teammates and family after a freak accident during his last game of the season.
"It's been a lot of like bed rest and just not much movement," said Sewharack.
During the third quarter of St. Louis Park's playoff game on Oct. 29, Sewharack said he went in to tackle a player on the Armstrong High School team.
"The guy was on a breakaway run for a touchdown and then like I got behind him and tackled him and like I landed on his cleat wrong, right in my stomach," explained Sewharack.
In the moment, Sewharack thought nothing of the blow to his midsection.
"I thought like I got the wind knocked out of me so I was down for a little bit and then I took a few plays off and then I went back in," said Sewharack.
He didn't realize the severity of what was unfolding internally until a trip to the hospital the next morning sent him into immediate surgery.
"I severed my pancreas, and like split it in half," said Sewharack.
Because he was bleeding internally, Sewharack said he made it to the emergency room just in time.
"If it went wrong I could've had diabetes, but they were able to like save it."
The high school safety is taking his recovery one day at a time, but said he's finding strength from the support of those he holds dear.
"It's been making me happy, it's been helping me recover a lot because everybody's checking in on me. Everybody's been helping out, it's been real nice," said Sewharack.
Sewharack spent a full week in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery in eight to 12 weeks.
Friends have created a Go Fund Me page to help out with Sewharack's recovery, including medical expenses.
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