North Texas teen paralyzed in freak diving accident honored at middle school football game
A North Texas teen who was paralyzed in a freak diving accident in June is home from the hospital and was honored at his Frisco middle school’s football game on Monday, Oct. 21.
Semyon “SJ” Williams Jr. faces a long recovery, but his family said on a GoFundMe page organized for the 13-year-old that his faith in God has given him strength.
“The results of this injury have left SJ confined to a wheelchair, however his positive spirit combined with the number of prayers and well-wishers continues to give us hope that a miracle is yet to come,” SJ’s grandfather Louis Camper wrote on the fundraising site.
On June 20, SJ dove or flipped headfirst into a community pool while trying to get away from a wasp. He fractured two vertebrae in his neck and suffered a spinal cord injury.
SJ arrived home on Oct. 1 after 103 days in the hospital and rehab. He was greeted by family, friends and his football teammates from Cobb Middle School in Frisco, according to the GoFundMe.
The 13-year-old is still undergoing physical therapy, and has regained movement in his shoulders and arms, Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV reported. He’s now working to recover the movement in his fingers, legs and toes.
“It’s not hard, it’s different,” SJ told WFAA. “You actually have to focus on moving your muscles.”
The teen’s mother, Anya Camper, told WFAA that they are taking things “one moment at a time.”
On Monday night, SJ showed up at a Cobb Middle School football game. The 13-year-old, who would’ve been playing as #66 alongside his teammates if it hadn’t been for the accident, was showered with love and support. A group of moms from the school organized a fundraiser to help cover the teen’s medical bills, according to WFAA.
Emmitt Smith, a Dallas Cowboys legend, recently sent SJ a video encouraging him to stay strong and keep the will to fight.
“I think this is going to propel him to bigger and better things,” Louis Camper told WFAA.
This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 3:29 PM.
