Mason Martin’s return home from the hospital has been pushed to next week, according to an update from his father, Denny Martin, on Tuesday, April 23.

The Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School quarterback, who collapsed at a game Sept. 1, was originally scheduled to be released from UPMC Children’s Hospital on Wednesday.

Denny Martin wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday that he is not disclosing the new tentative date of Mason’s release.

“One thing I have learned about transfers and discharges is to not believe it until you’re out the door,” he wrote. “(Mason) has actually been on the stretcher and I was en route to the other hospital when I was called back during one of his transfers.”

Denny Martin said his son, once released, will continue outpatient therapy at the Mario Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township.

“I'm hoping that they continue to challenge him and get him to a full recovery,” he said in an interview Monday. “I mean, I have no doubt in my mind that he will walk again and enjoy an independent, happy life.”

Though Mason is not yet speaking, Denny Martin said his son is making improvements in the hospital every day.

“His upper body movement, his ability to just reach and grab things (has improved),” he said. “He can play Uno, even pass cards out to people and pick them up off the deck and play. You know, those are things he wasn't even able to do a week ago.”

“He’s gaining a little more independence each day,” he wrote on social media. “I’ve been told that based on where his injury is on the brain that his speech might be the last thing to return. Just because he’s not vocalizing doesn’t mean he isn’t communicating. Everyone here from the nurses, therapist, and doctors can communicate with him.”

In the social media update, Denny Martin explained his son decides what he wants to wear or watch on TV and what activities he wants to do during rehabilitation.

“He gives you a lot of thumbs up and thumbs down,” he said Monday. “You can ask him questions. You can go thumbs up, thumbs down. Nonverbal communication is very easy.”

“He will also let you know how he feels through his facial expressions,” he wrote on social media. “He is beginning to nod yes or no but that often depends on how stiff his neck is or what position he’s in.”

Denny Martin ended the social media update by expressing how proud he is of all his son is accomplishing, and how thankful he is for the continued support.

“We have goals and big plans and he is well on his way to achieving them,” he wrote. “Hopefully my next update will be from my living room.”

He also shared that he held mixed feelings about returning home with his son.

“Right now, like this staff is like my family,” Denny Martin said. “I spend so much time with them. I know them so well. They know me. You feel like you're just walking away from your family, I guess. And that makes it very difficult. But as far as like (Mason’s) recovery, I think he's ready. I think even though he's doing so well in rehab here, you just want to kind of keep that momentum going. I feel like when he goes to outpatient rehab, they'll just continue with that. And I think just the excitement of him being home is really gonna help, you know, advance his recovery even more.”

His sisters — McKenna and Sydney Martin — are excited to see their brother at home, Denny Martin said, where the quarterback player will be greeted by his dogs, Bruiser and Murphy.

“I'm sure the first thing we're gonna do is probably just gather around him and let him see his dogs,” Denny Martin said. “He loves his dogs so much and we're already afraid that the dogs are just gonna go crazy ... we're already trying to plan for that.”

If he could go back in time when his son first collapsed on the field at a football game, Denny Martin said he would tell himself to have faith.

“I would tell myself that it's all going to work out, just to have faith and trust in God and his plan,” he said. “It'll all work out.”