Injured Karns City football player shows signs of improvement
A breathing tube was removed, and Mason Martin's lung had completely recovered on Monday, Sept. 4, after he was injured in a football game Friday night at Karns City Area School District’s Diehl Stadium.
The medical update was included in a Facebook post from Mason’s mother, Stacy King Martin. She said the high school senior and Karns City quarterback has demonstrated some “purposeful movement” in his arms, and is also retracting his legs when his toes are pinched.
“This is the first step in an extremely long journey,” she said in the post.
Mason collapsed during the third quarter of the game with the Redbank Valley Bulldogs. He was taken from the field by ambulance and then transported by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
The rest of the game was called off, and Redbank was declared the winner, 35-6
In a Facebook post, Mason’s parents are asking for “everyone’s strength and prayers” while doctors wait to assess possible injury to his brain.
Karns City district superintendent Eric Ritzert said counselors will be available at school Tuesday for students and staff members who need to talk to somebody.
“Our prayers are with him and his family as he recovers. I know many of our students and families were at the game and saw this happen,” Ritzert said in a statement Saturday. “Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support of our student and his family.”
On Sunday, players from several area football teams and the community attended a vigil at Diehl Stadium to pray in support of Mason. There was a private prayer vigil at the high school gym Saturday afternoon, overseen by the Rev. Paul “Cutty” DeBacco, that drew about 50 friends, family members and others connected to the team, according to an attendee.
As Mason's No. 2 jersey was displayed on the field Sunday, the Karns City players, coaches, staff and the community gathered to pray for his recovery.
“We’re just getting together and fighting for Mason,” said head coach Joe Sherwin. “It’s nice to know that we support each other.” Sherwin said Friday’s game with Ridgway is scheduled to be played.
Sherwin said some alumni football players and local clergy quickly came together to organize the prayer vigil. Word of Mason’s injury and the vigil spread over the weekend, and many businesses’ signs in and around the school district showed messages of support for Mason. Many people drove past those signs as the stadium filled Sunday.
Pete Sapp, pastor of Trinity Reformed Church of Bradys Bend, said the number of people who came together to support Mason and his family could be the start of what the high school senior needs to receive a miracle.
“The trauma that was with us and so many on Friday night was a bomb that went off in the middle of the Martins’ lives, and it has sent a shock wave not only throughout this community, but it has spread to other communities,” he said. “I can’t think of a time that I have been more proud of this community coming together.”
Ritzert opened the vigil by saying that the district has support counselors for anyone who needs to talk to someone about Mason and his condition. Several other area pastors led the full stadium in prayer, and some of the football players read Scripture during the vigil.
Michael Stimac, one of the principals of Karns City Jr./Sr. High School, was moved to tears speaking about Mason and his family. He met Mason when the football player was a fifth-grader in the district.
Stimac said Mason would probably be happy to know the community gathered for a prayer vigil to support him, because of his earlier expressions of faith.
“I’ve known them all (the Martins’ children) to be intelligent, hardworking, funny and all leaders,” Stimac said. “I remember telling their dad that I hoped my kids would grow up to be just as good as their kids.”
Just like Mason’s parents signed off on their Facebook post using Mason’s favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, the ceremony ended with Mason’s teammate reciting the verse:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Midway through the third quarter Friday, referee Mike Vasbinder noticed something was wrong with Mason.
“I had to talk to him, and when I asked if he was alright, he told me, ‘no,’” Vasbinder said. “So that’s when I knew something was wrong.”
The impact of Mason’s injury has spread far and wide throughout Butler County, with messages of support spread across social media from community organizations and other teams. Fox’s Pizza in Chicora, just a few miles south of Karns City, changed their marquee to read, “PRAY FOR MASON.”
Many associated with or close to the team changed their Facebook profile pictures to a picture of Mason in his football uniform with the text “MasonStrong.”
The Moniteau Youth Football Association announced that it would take donations at the gate for the Martin family at all of its games on Saturday. The group also planned a moment of silence before each game in honor of Mason and his family.
Two youth football games in the county scheduled for Saturday have been canceled — one between Karns City and Redbank, the other between Slippery Rock and East Brady.
“The truth is we need a miracle,” Mason’s parents said in their Facebook post. “I’m not saying that to sound grim, but to let you know that we need the strength of your prayers. No one believes in this kid more than us, but he needs everyone’s strength and prayers.
“When Stacy was first diagnosed with cancer, we decided to never hide or sugarcoat anything,” Mason’s father, Denny Martin, said in a statement the family shared on social media. “We would be upfront and honest with our children, family, and loved ones.”
Stacy Martin started cancer treatments in 2019, when her breast cancer returned after first being diagnosed in 2013.
Social media posts from school districts across Pennsylvania asked their students to wear purple and yellow on Tuesday in support of Mason and his family.
A GoFundMe to support Mason’s family has been set up by the community.
Eagle staff members Eddie Trizzino, William Pitts, Mikayla Torrence, Tyler Howe and Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.
