A week ago Wednesday, the Chapin High School community was stunned to learn that junior lacrosse player Jack Enright had suffered a broken neck in a collision with a Lexington player that has paralyzed him from the waist down.
On Thursday, students, teachers and staff at Chapin High responded with a pep rally that was one part tribute, part fundraiser for a student who faces a long road back sitting in an Atlanta rehabilitation facility. News 19's Ron Aiken has the story.
When junior lacrosse player Jack Enright suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed him from the waist down, Chapin High principal Akil Ross said the entire school wanted to help however they could. Friday, that took the form of a pep rally that served as a videotaped message of support.
"Today was an opportunity to amass that support in a visual image that hopefully, as he sees that, if it just helps him a little bit to be encouraged, to continue to fight, to continue to work hard, that's what support is all about," Ross says.
Jack currently is rehabilitating at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. His brother Connor is a senior and also plays lacrosse. He says the love from so many people has been overwhelming.
"Before, we knew our close friends and family would be behind us and a few people would reach out to us, but it's been incredible," Enright says. "The amount of people that have reached out to us has meant so much to us and has made the journey so much easier for us."
But nothing is truly easy for a family facing the severity of Jack's prognosis, not after so much has changed.
"Its' weird, honestly, the first day going back to school, the first practice back, the first game back, it's really different," Enright says. "He's been my best friend my entire life, and the first time without him it was really different and I didn't know how to handle it, but the amount of support I had behind me and my family really made it easier."
Connor's message for his brother is from the heart.
"I'd just tell him I love him and let him know that he has the world behind him of support and if there's anything he needed, there's someone who could help him out with it. There's nothing that he won't be able to do."
The school will continue to collect money and sell bracelets and T-shirts. To find out how to help or show support, go to the Facebook page Pray for Jack Enright."
