For those of you reading about the situation with Steven Long of Portland State University who was stricken with seizures and hospitalized this past Friday we wanted to get you the news. The former Sherwoood Bowmen (2010 State Champion) and Lake Oswego Laker (2011 State Champion) who ran for over 5,000 yards in High School went into surgery this morning at 8 AM at OHSU to have a Brain Tumor removed that was creating the seizures.
Steven Long and Nigel Burton Embrace after the State Title Game.
With thousands of people jumping in to pray and support him the surgery and his illness has been playing out on social media. We set up the Pray For Steven Long Facebook page working with his Parents as we are all friends and as close as family. In doing so we were able to rally 1,500 supporters in less then 48 hours, over 65,000 people read the updates and reacted, and hundreds sent in messages and prayers. You can Like and join that Face Book Page Here. Thanks to all of you for these prayers, all the visits, tweets,and texts and all of that positive energy. It no doubt surrounded the hospital with a bubble of positivity and prayer.
With Head Vikings Coach Nigel Burton and his Mom and Dad and family by his side Steven went in to surgery at 8 AM today to have a tumor removed that was pressing on his brain. At Noon his Mom Angela sent us a message. It simply said:
“”He is out. It’s NOT Cancer!!!!!”
That was all we needed and wanted to hear.
Later in the day Head Coach Nigel Burton contacted us.
“Success! Steven is out of surgery. Non-cancerous growth was removed and they expect full recovery. The family is so worn out right now that they really can’t communicate so I’ll have more later. He’s in good spirits and docs say there should be no re-occurrence.”
How great is that. Wow.
Now tonight here is the final word from Coach Burton who has been there and not left Steven’s side.
“Not much new to report. He is doing awesome! He can start having Visitors again soon, He will probably be in the hospital a couple more days and will then go home,” said Burton.
Folks this is a guy you want for your Head Coach. And believe me when I say we all expect to see Long out there at Jeld-Wen this season working on bringing the Vikings a League Title. I was with Burton watching Long in the Fall of 2011 as we looked on the amazing kid put up 464 yards and 7 TD’s on Skyline High School. After that Burton was hooked and his love for Long has only grown since.
Steven Long is much more then a football player. With him, inside of him if you will, is a spark that burns 24 hours a day. It is the spark of Champions and with it he can bring a team up. There are people like that in life. We all know them and he is one of them. On or off the field Steven has the ability to make a difference in the world and that is why him beating this illness was so important to so many people. Coach Burton loves the kid and he gets it. It’s not about football. It’s all about life!
Tonight the collective populace who came to love this young man can say one last prayer and say thanks to God. And the Long family asked that we would thank all of you and say that your prayers were felt and heard. Call it a miracle if you want.
How that mass was not cancer we will never know. The fact he is going to leave the hospital in a few days is just amazing as well.
Sleep well Steven and to all of you thank you.
Thank You! And Thank you God. Most of all Thank you!
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