Bills Tight End Everett Walking After Spinal Cord Injury

Bills Tight End Everett Reportedly Walking On His Own After Spinal Cord Injury

Kevin Everett is walking on his own at a Houston rehab center, the latest significant progress by the Buffalo Bills tight end in his remarkable recovery from a serious spinal cord injury. "He doesn't have a full natural stride but, yeah, he's walking,'' a person close to the family told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of Everett's status.

The person said Everett has been walking under his own power since his release from Memorial Hermann/TIRR three weeks ago and is now an outpatient there. The person added Everett is picked up at his Houston-area home by car to attend daily rehab sessions and is able to walk to and from the facility.

"He's not driving or anything like that, but he is walking. He's not running. He is walking,'' the person said.

Doctors initially feared he'd never walk again after what was described as a life-threatening injury while making a tackle in the Sept. 9 season opener against Denver. Everett was paralyzed from the neck down when he arrived at Buffalo's Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital and spent the first few days on life support.

The prognosis was far more positive a few days later when Everett showed movement in his legs and arms and was sensitive to touch. He improved so steadily during his first two weeks he was transferred to Houston for the next stage of rehab. Everett makes his offseason home there, and doctors felt it important for him to be close to family and friends.

Bills punter Brian Moorman learned after practice that Everett was walking. "Any time we hear about something along those lines, it gives you chills,'' he said. "We're always thinking about him, and we're thrilled any time we hear about any progress. ... It's obviously a good sign. We hope to see him personally sometime soon.''

more...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3145556