Stony Point paralyzed athlete discusses his progress

It was September 2, 2015, when Stony Point student and football player Jasiel Favors wanted to make a play on the field.

“I got low, bad technique. We hit heads, and he got up, I didn't,” said Favors.

He suffered injuries to his spine, and was left paralyzed from the neck down. But now, he is paralyzed from the chest down. After much rehab and support, he is improving, and just became able to move his shoulders.

“Now that I can actually scoot myself, adjust, it's good,” said Favors.

“He has a lot more feeling that they said he would never be able to feel,” said Debra Favors, his mother.

The now 18-year-old also had his tracheal tube removed, making him feel more independent. Last fall the family received an accommodating van, a gift from the round rock community, which also is making life easier

“Relying on companies to take me to my doctors' appointments and whatever reason, it was just too much so I've just been able to get up and go,” said Jasiel.

Through this process Jasiel says he realized who his true friends are.

“It used to make me cry, like why is nobody talking to me or coming over. A friend is someone there to motivate and comfort you. They go high and low for you. That's what my boys do that's all I need,” said Jasiel.

In the fall, he will be a senior, and he hopes to attend college. The injury, traumatic yes, but for this spry athlete, it's just a bump in the road to greater things.

“I still have that faith he's going to walk. It's just going to take a little bit longer,” said Debra.