Injured Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School quarterback Mason Martin has made significant steps in his rehabilitation from football-related injuries he suffered back in September.

Mason’s father, Denny, shared an update on his Facebook page on Friday, Dec. 15, saying Mason has begun to show on-command movement in his upper and lower extremities.

The biggest breakthrough came this week when Denny and the doctors treating him at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh saw him lift his arm to adjust his glasses twice. This happened on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 14, as a physical therapist was lifting him onto a treadmill.

“When they sat him back down in his wheelchair, he reached up with his right arm and adjusted his glasses,” Denny wrote. “The therapists were freaking out and I missed it because I was standing behind him. I moved around to the front and said, ‘What the heck Mason, I missed it.’ He reached his hand up and adjusted his glasses again.”

In another encouraging sign for Mason that day, he moved his hand toward his face and pulled his arm away at the command of physical therapist Dr. Kevin Franzese.

“Dr. Franzese looked at me and said, ‘I’ve got chills right now,’” Denny wrote.

Earlier this month, Mason was transferred to UPMC Mercy to restart his rehabilitation after spending months at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent cranial flap surgery on Oct. 20. He was first moved to UPMC Mercy shortly after the surgery to begin his rehabilitation, but had to be moved back to Presbyterian in early November after testing positive for meningitis.

Mason suffered his injuries while playing for the Karns City Gremlins football team on Sept. 1. During the third quarter of the Gremlins’ game against Redbank Valley, he collapsed, and was later diagnosed with a brain bleed and a collapsed lung.

Denny expressed hope further breakthroughs were on the way for his son.

“I have been telling you all how close I thought he was to breaking through,” Denny wrote. “I could see it in his eyes. He gives me this look as if he is screaming at me through his eyes. I can hear him yelling, ‘I’m ready! Let’s go!’”