Milan athlete is living miracle after traumatic injury

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO The Hunters are a tight knit family. In the background many family photos are displayed in their home to showcase the importance of family to them. They are thankful son Cory has survived a traumatic brain injury and now help him with recovery. Standing from left are: Starla and Michael, with children: Ashley, Christopher, Cory, with little brother, Eric, hugging him. The family dog, Mitzie, posed along with the family.

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Milan is a town known for miracles, especially when it comes to athletics.

The Hunter family of Milan truly believes in miracles because their son is living proof they do exist. Just four days into the school year Milan football player Cory Hunter sustained an injury on the field that changed his life forever. His family is simply grateful that he has his life.

Beginning his freshman year, Cory was doing what he loved, playing football, when a tackle literally brought him down. “It was the first game of the year, fourth quarter,” he told the Osgood Journal, as he recalled events from the night that left him fighting for his life.

Cory remembers one of Lawrenceburg’s running backs getting the football and running up the sideline. “His left side hit my right side,” he remembered, sending both players to the ground.

Cory actually stood up, walked back to the huddle when his right leg felt “tingly”. Cory said he took his helmet off, told his coach, Michael Brandes, that his other leg felt numb, and then collapsed.
Cory’s identical twin brother Christopher was also on the football field and was the player who called the time out. Cradling his brother’s head, Chris knew he was hurt, he just didn’t know how bad. Describing the scene, Chris said he too felt his brother’s pain, his own head hurt and his legs had a strange sensation.

The boys’ parents, Starla and Michael, were watching the scene unfold, when they were told they were needed on the field. Time seemed suspended for the couple as they made their way to the field. Cory’s mother was still emotional after eight months as she remembered seeing Cory with Chris holding his head.

Everything went pretty quickly after that, even though it felt like a lifetime to the Hunters. Cory was life lined to the University of Louisville Hospital where the family was eventually told he had a life threatening brain injury. “That’s when my whole world collapsed,” Starla shared. “I had three questions, was he paralyzed, what was the worst case scenario and when could I see him?” she remembered.

At 2:30 a.m. the family could finally see Cory, but they would receive a shock. “He was hooked up to everything, the left side of his head was swollen terribly, his eye was swollen shut and he was black and blue,” Starla noted. She took his hand and whispered, “fight to come back.”

Cory was unresponsive and doctor’s didn’t give a bright outlook. Michael remembers the scene like it was yesterday, saying he took his son’s hand and said, “Cory, it’s dad, look at me.” He repeated his statement three times and then it happened. Cory’s right eye opened and focused on his dad.

Elated, Starla ran to get a nurse. Cory would squeeze both his mom and the nurse’s hands on command. “All the doctor could say was ‘wow’”, Starla remembered.

The battle wasn’t over by any means, but the signs were good. In a little over a week Cory was moved from the hospital to Southern Indiana Rehab in New Albany, where he continued to amaze the medical community with his speedy recovery.

The Homecoming game at Milan was also homecoming day for Cory. “He really wanted to go to the game,” his mother noted, but she said she knew it wasn’t the best for him. Cory’s parents did take him to the school’s football field where the students “swarmed him” because they were so glad he was home. The crowd stood to welcome him, “it was an emotional time,” Starla said.

The first semester of this school year was a blur of doctor appointments, intense physical therapy, speech therapy and more. He regained his strength enough to begin school again January 10.

Cory’s life has changed dramatically and so has his family’s. “Now we work around his schedule,” his father noted, saying they are doing everything to help their son regain his health. The Hunters say their son has moderate to severe brain damage that affects his memory and vision somewhat. He knows he can never play football again, but his coach has assured him he still has his number and he’s still going to be a leader off the field.

“I’d like to play...” Cory told the Osgood Journal, but, he knows the score. If he would get another head injury it would kill him. The doctor told him if he was a cat he would have already used eight of his nine lives. He knows he has to be extra careful. Some everyday tasks are difficult for Cory to carry out., He said his school work is harder now and the accident has left him with some personality changes. He has challenges to face.

Now the family knows how critical Cory was when he was wheeled off the field. “He was brain dead,” his parents shared. “That’s why we call him our miracle,” they agreed.

The Hunters are thankful for a supportive community. “So many people have done so much, I hate to name names for fear of leaving someone out,” Starla noted. From school personnel who went the extra mile (the coaches actually came to the hospital in Louisville at 3:00 a.m. the morning after the incident occurred), teammates (who also visited Cory at the hospital) students to considerate employers, loving family and more, the Hunters are grateful. Starla’s parents, Shirley and Ron Shelton of Versailles, never left their side.

How did Cory go from being brain dead to the friendly, intelligent teenager he is today? The Hunters can only point to the sky and said, “It was a miracle.” Prayers were sent up from church goers around the world as his name appeared on many prayer chains. Rev. Harris Long, minister at the First Baptist Church, Milan, where the Hunters attend, was at the family’s side from the moment Cory was taken off the football field.

As the school year draws to a close, the Hunter family say they have experienced a vast range of emotions. “We hug our kids a little tighter now,” concluded Starla.