University of Georgia Athletics
Thank You, Devon, For Being An Inspiration
February 25, 2016 | Football
Devon Gales and his family had a press conference which included the Triumph over Tragedy Foundation surprising them with the news that they would be building them a new home. Also Dr. Kim Walpert (his neurosurgeon), Ron Courson and Nancy Denson all spoke about Devon.
Feb. 25, 2016
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
One brief moment Thursday during Devon Gales and his family's visit to Athens showed all you need to know about this special group of people, who came into our lives, and have so powerfully touched our lives, under tragic circumstances.
Thursday was almost five months to the day since the Southern University wide receiver suffered a spinal cord injury in the Jaguars' game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 26. On Friday, at last, after months in Atlanta where Devon was rehabilitating at the Shepherd Center, the family is headed home to Baton Rouge, La.
During a news conference in the Bulldogs' team meeting room at Butts-Mehre Hall, Tanisha Gales was describing the progress her step-son has made since the injury and subsequent surgery, performed by Dr. Kim Walpert at Athens Regional Medical Center. Gales remains in a wheelchair, but he has a lot of upper-body movement and has some feeling in different parts of his lower body.
"We can see in his daily movements what he's able to do," Tanisha Gales said. "When we first got to Athens with Dr. Walpert, he wasn't able to move anything past his shoulders. And you see from that point to where he is now ..." -- at that point Devon, seated in his wheelchair to her left, gave an exaggerated roll of his shoulders -- "a jokester."
That prompted Devon's father, Donny, to say: "I think he's going to apply for a comedian's job."
Yes, these strong and inspirational folks are going to be just fine. They have each other, already an extraordinary foundation, along with Devon's two siblings -- and yet they have so much more.
They have their Baton Rouge friends and family, Devon's Southern University family, the University of Georgia players, staff and supporters that have become like family, as well as the communities in Athens and Atlanta that have offered so much support.
After the injury occurred, when Devon was on the grass at Sanford Stadium, Ron Courson, Georgia's Senior Associate Athletic Director and Director of Sports Medicine, sprinted down the sideline to him and was among the first by his side. Those two, like so many others, are bonded for life.
"He's been such an inspiration from day one, and every time I go to visit him I tell him I'm blessed, because I come back and I'm feeling better about everything," Courson said after the news conference. "And his mom and dad are the same way. It's funny how things work but we never would have met that family before, but now you've got a relationship, and a lot of people have relationships with them, that will be there forever."
Devon and his parents came to Athens Thursday to say farewell and offer a deep and passionate thanks, to the people at UGA and at Athens Regional, before heading home, where a much-anticipated reunion with Devon's Southern teammates awaits. They spoke often of how thankful they are for how they've been embraced and supported and of the many blessings that have come their way in the past five months.
"I want to thank the UGA for EVERYTHING, everything," Devon said. "Without UGA I probably wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be in this pretty blue chair [laughs] if it wasn't for UGA and the amount of support everybody's been giving me."
They got more blessings Thursday when at the news conference Reggie and Wesley Jones of the Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation announced that the foundation was starting a campaign to raise money to build the Gales a new house, one built with Devon's condition in mind. (Go to www.givetotriumph.info for information on how to help, though you may have to be patient because the high volume of traffic crashed the website Thursday.)
Later in the day, Brad Akins, of Akins Ford in Winder, presented him with a specially equipped Dodge Charger -- in Southern University blue, of course.
But the Gales are not the only thankful ones. Everyone else who spoke at the news conference offered thanks back to Devon and his family.
"In the world of neurosurgery, our lives are filled with tragedy," Walpert said. "But I'll tell you, what Devon and his family and this community have proven is that tragedy can be something that is life-changing in a beautiful way."
I was in the press box that day and saw Devon collide with Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan. I saw Courson sprinting to Devon's side and I've been watching ever since, moved and inspired by everything I've seen, from everyone involved.
Thank you, Devon Gales, for being an inspiration to so many. Thank you for your spirit that clearly cannot be broken, for your optimism, your quick smile and sharp sense of humor, and for the grace with which you've handled a difficult, life-altering injury. Thank you for being you.
To his father and step-mom, Donny and Tanisha, thank you for raising such an inspirational son, and for being inspirations yourself. You exude strength and love and warmth, everything your son has needed in the most difficult months of his life. I can't imagine how hard it has been, but I also can't imagine anyone doing it better.
Thank you to Courson and Georgia's sports medicine staff, who are so good at their jobs. Before the game Georgia met with Southern's sports medicine staff for what Courson called a "medical timeout," in which their protocols for a serious injury are discussed.
"Then, two hours later, it happened," Courson said. "Because we communicated we had a good result. It's a great message: in sports medicine you've got to be prepared and you've got rehearse and communicate, and we all have to work together."
One of the greatest players in Georgia football history, David Pollack, whose NFL career was cut short by a broken neck, moderated Thursday's news conference. He was great, offering some funny lines and some thoughtful insights from his own experiences.
Pollack's most powerful line, spoken to Devon with conviction, was: "Don't let someone tell you what you can't do from here on in."
Devon spoke at length about how much Courson and Georgia program coordinator Bryant Gantt have meant to him. Gantt, now Devon's godfather, came to visit every Wednesday, while Courson visited each Sunday. Former coach Mark Richt made a powerful connection, as well, as did numerous players and staff members.
"It's just been amazing to know that there are still beautiful people out in the world," Devon said.
And Devon is one of them.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.