By Karah Wilson
karah@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala.— 13-year-old Bryson Richey was having one last back-to-school get together with his friends on Aug. 4 before starting back as a 7th grader at Plainview on Aug. 6. Richey, along with friends Jacob Henderson, Ethan Hope, and Jathan Underwood, decided to go on an ATV ride near Little Mountain Lakes Resort when Richey turned into a curve too fast and the vehicle flipped. Richey’s leg was pinned under the ATV. Henderson, Hope, and Underwood rushed to help Richey and proceeded to call 911. Richey was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital.
Richey’s mother, Danielle Richey, noticed that her son’s foot was cold and then learned that her son’s blood flow was cut off during the accident. His leg was then amputated from his knee down. Richey was more upset by not being able to play football this year than the incident. He is not pitying himself, but he is becoming impatient and is ready to move on from what happened. “The hardest part for Bryson is waiting to heal and the ghost pain. He’s very active and he wants to go back to his normal activities. He misses his friends and school. He’s more upset because it is unsure how it will impact his ability to play sports.”
Richey’s friends visit as often as they can. He has even received some special phone calls. Nick Saban, Gus Malzahn, and Noah Galloway have all sent Richey some words of encouragement. Saban sent a signed football, a picture, a media guide, a poster, and even invited him to watch a day of practice in Tuscaloosa. Galloway, an amputee himself, sent his own words of encouragement along with a signed copy of Men’s Health which features him on the front.
The family says it will probably be mid-September before Richey will be fit for a prosthetic. Richey went under a hyperbaric chamber Monday to see if there is a way to speed up the healing of the soft tissue. This is important because the tissue must be healed in order to wear the prosthetic. Richey will have two prosthetics, one for sports and one for normal use. Richey began hyperbaric oxygen therapy Tuesday. He will be going two hours a day for two weeks. “After the wounds heal he will be wearing a shrinking device for seven to ten days,” Richey’s mom said. “He will be reevaluated by a surgeon on Sept. 10.”
On Nov. 8 the Rainsville Freedom Run will host the first Bryson Strong 5K and Fun Run at the Rainsville Civic Center. The money raised will be used for the medical expenses not covered by the family’s insurance. The 5K entry is $25 and the fun run entry is $20. There will also be Dri-fit, long-sleeve shirts to purchase for $20. You do not have to participate in the races to buy a shirt. Deadline for entry and ordering a shirt is Oct. 31. To register, go online to racesonline.com. Checks can be made out to Bryson Strong 5K and mailed to P.O. Box 645, Rainsville, Ala. 35986. Registration of the day of the event is 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. For more information, the event’s Facebook page is Bryson Strong 5K and Fun Run.
