Mason Martin is tentatively scheduled to be released from the UPMC Children’s Hospital next month, according to an update from his father Denny Martin on Friday, March 8.

The Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School quarterback, who collapsed at a game Sept. 1, is now in a “pretty comfortable spot,” in rehabilitation. According to a Facebook post from Martin, his son’s pending release has brought on mixed emotions.

“I would love nothing more than to get him back home. However, I feel we haven’t maximized our time here because of all the tinkering with his meds, fluid levels and agitation,” he wrote. “I just don’t think he’s got a fair run at all the therapists have to offer here.”

Martin wrote on Friday that the doctors continually adjust Mason’s medication.

“They have increased his fluids again and this seems to be a big factor in how he feels and in controlling his heart rate,” he wrote. “The main priority at this point is to reduce the tightness in his muscles. He is so contracted that it’s difficult for him to move.”

Martin indicated the process of balancing muscle relaxers and stimulants is a delicate one. According to the post, the relaxers can make Mason drowsy and the stimulants that counteract them can sometimes agitate him.

“The difficult part for me is that I know he needs these medications, but I often wonder what would happen if he was off all these meds. Is he over medicated? Under medicated? Given the wrong medications?” Martin wrote.

Mason is moving his head and eyes to follow people in the room, as well as trying to sit up, according to Martin. However, Mason’s rehabilitation sessions can be “hit or miss.”

“Some days, he’s really with it and interacting well. Some days he seems very disconnected and uninterested,” Martin wrote. “Yesterday, he ate some peanut butter and he did pretty good with it. I imagine that would be the most difficult soft food to eat. He’s getting better at sipping water out of a cup.”

Mason is also gaining some weight back, sitting at 144 pounds Martin wrote the lightest he has seen his son was 128 pounds.

Martin again thanked the community for their support during Mason’s recovery.

“It never gets old. I enjoy all the messages, comments, and inspiring verses that are shared daily. We will continue to pray and fight every day,” he wrote.