Hixon going home for the holidays

[Guest HowieP1]

Skins assistant's son gets good news

Stan Hixon will enjoy a happy holiday season as his child recovers from a serious football injury.

BY RYAN O'HALLORAN

247-4964

Published November 20, 2004

ASHBURN -- The team he works for may be struggling, but the holiday season will be especially gratifying for Washington Redskins receivers coach Stan Hixon.

Hixon said this week that his son, Drew, would be released from a Charlottesville rehabilitation center Tuesday, more than two months after he was seriously injured while playing a football game for Tennessee Tech.

Drew Hixon, 22, will begin rehabilitation at a Washington-area facility soon after his release.

"Most definitely a special Thanksgiving," Stan said this week. "We have relatives in Silver Spring (Md.) and a big thing for the family is planned. We have a lot to be thankful for."

A senior, Drew was playing against South Florida on Sept. 11, when, following a 19-yard reception, two players hit him, dislodging his helmet. His helmet flew off and he was knocked unconscious.

Hours before the Redskins' season-opening game against Tampa Bay, Stan flew to Florida to be with his wife, Rebecca, and Drew, who was in a coma. The front and back of his brain were bruised.

Stan missed the Redskins' first three games.

The final week of September, Drew began to open and close his eyes and his condition was upgraded from critical to serious.

On Oct. 2, Drew was moved to the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville so he could be closer to his family in Leesburg.

Stan said Drew took a big turn for the better three weeks ago.

"They removed the feeding tube so he was able to eat and sleep like you and I," Stan said. "He's walking with a cane, so he's really self-sufficient.

"He can talk to you and you can talk to him. At first he couldn't initiate the conversation, but the last two weeks, he can initiate and carry the conversation."

Stan visits his son in Charlottesville on Tuesday and Friday nights, and his wife commutes back and forth. He said Drew has no recollection of August and September.

"Hopefully that will come later on," Stan said. "He's trying to get into the cognitive learning and being able to retain information on a daily basis."

Drew was two classes away from his degree at the time of the injury and was scheduled to graduate in December.

"What we're probably looking at is going back next fall," Stan said. "Mentally, he's not ready to go back in January because of his therapy and rehab."

Stan said Drew's long-term prognosis wouldn't be determined until next year.

"They won't say for sure because the brain is unbelievable," he said. "They tell us that where he's at after 18 months-two years is where he's going to be. If he remembers August and September before that, that's a plus. We're very encouraged."

Once Stan returned to the Redskins in late September, he hasn't had much time to take a breather between coaching and driving to and from Charlottesville.

"At this time of the year, there's no rest for the weary," he said. "You just keep plugging along. But when he's able to watch our games and talk about the team - he likes our running game and defense - it's a blessing."

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-18980sy0nov20,0,6402653.story?coll=dp-sports-local

[USFJDawg21]

Excellent news  ;D

[Velcro]

awesome... great to hear!  

[BULLO12]

Fantastic....always good to hear encouraging news.

[bulls96go]

good news for the hixon's

[E.T.]

Excellent ... thanx for the post Howie