Drive honours injured teammate
Braidyn Milton is doing intensive rehab after suffering critical injuries in October collision
Players on the Thomas A. Stewart Griffins senior boys football team donned their jerseys for pints instead of points Tuesday.
About nine players donated blood at Canadian Blood Services in honour of their teammate who was hospitalized earlier this year.
Braidyn Milton, 17, suffered life-threatening injuries following a collision on Highway 28 in Douro-Dummer Township in October. He was on his way to school.
Milton was airlifted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in critical condition and was induced into a coma.
He’s now in recovery and doing intensive rehab in Toronto. Milton is walking and talking, and his memory is returning.
“It’s unbelievable how he’s doing,” said Mike Goble, assistant coach, adding there’s talk of Milton returning to school for the second semester.
Throughout the rest of the football season, practices and pregame talks were focused on Milton. The coaches and players talked about how they could honour Milton and support him in his journey.
Although Milton didn’t need much blood as part of his recovery, Goble thought donating was a tangible way to give back to the medical system.
“It was a great opportunity for our team to thank the system that saved his life,” Goble said.
Jake Zajac, 17, said he’d always planned on donating.
“I was going to do it when I turned 17, but I hadn’t had the motivation yet, Mr. Goble brought that to me,” said Zajac.
The Grade 12 student said the tragedy really brought the team together and gave them something to play for.
“We played our entire season for him,” Zajac said.
And they played well.
The Griffins went on to win their first COSSA senior football title in 23 years.
Jacob Woodhouse, 17, also had plans to donate now that he’s of age (people must be 17 to donate). Doing it for Milton was the encouragement he needed.
Woodhouse donated for his first time Tuesday alongside his teammates, teachers and coaches.
“To be part of this and be around everyone, it’s a positive spot,” Woodhouse said.
About 25 people, including friends and family of the team, donated Tuesday for the In Honour of Braidyn Blood Drive.
It runs for the month of December and the Griffins are encouraging others to give blood.
Teammate Cam Wilson also donated blood for the first time Tuesday.
The 18-year-old said he decided to give because it’s something he could do to honour his teammate.
That said, Wilson plans to donate again on his own.
“We should do it anyways,” Wilson said.
NOTE: To book an appointment to donate, visit www.blood.ca