Mason Martin

The father of injured Karns City football player Mason Martin announced his son was “awake and alert” for most of Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Denny Martin said on Facebook that Mason has improved and was moved to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh to begin rehabilitation.

The Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School senior had been in UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh for the last two months and had surgery to put his cranial flap in place, according to the family.

Mason was playing quarterback when he collapsed Sept. 1 during a game against Redbank Valley and was flown to UPMC Presbyterian to be treated for a brain bleed and a collapsed lung.

According the post on Tuesday, when Mason and his father left UPMC Presbyterian, all the nurses and staff lined the hallway to wished him well.

“It was an amazing closure to that chapter of our lives,” Denny Martin wrote.

The cranial flap surgery made Mason look “like a new person,” Mason’s father said. “He was awake and very responsive.”

But there was a buildup of fluids later, and a tube was put in place to drain the fluid from his head, Denny Martin said. The fluid buildup, he said, caused Mason to become unresponsive.

A shunt was placed under the skin to assist with draining the fluid. Denny Martin said it’s a slow process, but draining the fluid too fast can be dangerous.

Mason had been scheduled to move a few times, but there were setbacks. Most recently, he developed an infection that caused a fever. However, antibiotics kicked in quickly, Denny Martin said, allowing for the transfer to Mercy on Tuesday.

Denny Martin expressed gratitude to the team at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, and said the staff at Mercy had been waiting for him and were eager to get started.

“Please continue to pray and fight for Mason,” he said. “The next six weeks are going to be challenging and he needs your strength.”