Denny Martin helps his son, Mason, look out the kitchen window. Mason returned home almost two weeks ago after a long stay at UPMC Children’s Hospital resulting from a head injury the Karns City senior sustained as quarterback during a varsity football game.

Mason Martin has returned to his Karns City home and is adjusting well since he was released from the hospital, his father Denny said.

“So far the last 10 days have been going well. We have settled into a pretty good routine which still requires some tweaks here and there,” Denny said Friday in a social media post.

Mason has undergone extensive treatment since he suffered a head injury in September during a football game while he was quarterbacking the Karns City Gremlins. He was being treated at UMPC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Acquiring home nursing before Mason was discharged was stressful and frustrating, but Denny said he is pleased with the nurses he found.

“From the very beginning one home nurse has stuck with us through it all. She has had many opportunities to take on other patients, but she remained committed to working with Mason,” Denny said. “She has been everything I thought she would be. I am very grateful and I know the medical team at Children’s have been grateful for her loyalty as well.”

He said he was uncomfortable bringing Mason home when he did because he had only one nurse for the first week, but he remained faithful and was rewarded.

“We are blessed to have three amazing nurses that are skilled, knowledgeable and fun to be around. ‘God is good’ is an understatement,” Denny said.

He said he still needs help caring for Mason during weekend daylight hours and some weekday hours. People wishing to help can send him a message if they will love and care for Mason as if he were their own family member and believe, with no uncertainty, that Mason will fully recover.

Denny said Mason is doing well at home and he believes he is getting stronger. He said Mason is put through his exercise paces every day and many of the activities he did while he was in the hospital are duplicated at home.

Mason also enjoys spending his down time lounging on the couch and watching movies.

“It’s been cool to see him tense up during action scenes and relax when they’re over. We’re just trying to duplicate everyday life as closely as possible,” Denny said.

He said the hot weather has created some challenges and traveling with Mason has been difficult. His medications and feeding schedule also create challenges, Denny said.

Recently, Mason had to go to Children’s for an X-ray of his feeding tubes. Denny said it took 10 minutes to complete the X-rays, but it was a six hour round trip.

“I felt like we were packing for a weekend camping trip. As frustrating as that was, some good came out of it. His favorite nurse, three of his therapists and one of his doctors came down to see him. It was great to see them and I’m sure it made his day. I also realized that was way too much for him right now,” Denny said.

He said the long travel time to UPMC Lemieux Sports Center in Cranberry Township for outpatient rehabilitation is too challenging, and Mason will begin going to ACMH Hospital in Kittanning starting this week.

“Thank you all for the continued support. We will do the best we can, but I apologize if we are unable to attend planned events. As I mentioned earlier, I will not jeopardize Mason’s safety,” Denny said. “Your support means the world to us and if we can be there we will. We are on God’s timeline, not our own. Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers.”