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High school quarterback Kevin Balewicz knew something was wrong when he felt a pop in his leg during a game-time injury.
WATCH KEVIN MAKE A MIRACULOUS RETURN TO SPORTS AFTER A DEBILITATING INJURY ALMOST COST HIM HIS LEG IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.
He went home thinking it was a sprained ankle but the pain got worse and worse until one night it was unbearable and his family rushed him to the hospital.
Days later, Kevin and his parents learned how serious this injury really was. He suffered from compartment syndrome. The muscles in his left leg were dying, and releasing toxins into his body.
Doctors needed to perform emergency surgery on his leg and gave the Balewicz family the grim news that it might need to be amputated.
When Kevin woke up from the operation, he immediately stared down at his leg.
“It was still there,” says Kevin. “I was pretty happy.”
Over the course of two months, Kevin made significant progress.
A moment he’ll never forget is when his entire team packed into two school buses and showed up at his house with the game ball after a major win.
“He’s as tough as they come, and a great teammate and person,” senior captain Zack Athy said. “So it was the least we could do for him.”
“I had no idea that they were planning that,” Kevin said. “It meant a lot to me.”
Just two months later, the 4-sport athlete was back doing what he loves. He may have missed the rest of football season but he returned to the baseball diamond and made the most incredible comeback.
Kevin is up for a courage award at this year’s USA TODAY High School Sports Awards.
The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards show, hosted by Michael Strahan and Rob Gronkowski, will name the top high school athletes from across the country. Watch it beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 5th on sportsawards.usatoday.com, YouTube and the USA TODAY and USA TODAY Sports channels on your Roku or smart TV.