OLATHE, Kan. — An Olathe senior remains in the ICU, Sunday, after collapsing during a football game on Friday night.
Paramedics rushed James McGinnis off the field and took him to the hospital where he underwent emergency brain surgery.
He’s now in the ICU in critical condition.
The senior is said to be stable and even though his community can’t be with him, they want him to know they’re there.
“While James remains in critical but stable condition, we are blessed today to see small signs of healing. We are simply amazed by this community, and we feel your love and support. Keep up the #PrayForJames nation. We know it’s making a difference,” said James’ father, Patrick McGinnis, and family in a statement Sunday.
A packed house with two rivals going head to head. A stadium normally filled with cheers fell silent, after senior James McGinnis collapsed on the field.
Fifteen minutes went by, as paramedics talked to him and checking his vitals.
“I think we were like a big family in that moment,” Sophomore Sidney Ruisch said.
His friends and teammates watched helplessly as McGinnis was rushed off the field on a stretcher. Though no words were spoken, the look of fear was written all over their faces.
When he wakes up, he’ll see hundreds of tweets and trending hashtags like #PrayForJames and #OlatheFamily.
Friday night started as a game where Olathe East was playing against Olathe South and ended with no rivalry at all just prayers for McGinnis.
“When something happens to someone in our community we pull together no matter the circumstances,” Ruisch said.
The McGinnis family sent us this statement:
“James is tough, passionate- a perfect son, friend, an athlete. He loves his family, and that family includes the Olathe Football Family and friends. We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support from this community. We get strength from your positive thoughts and prayers. He remains in critical, but stable condition. As such, we are 100% committed to his recovery so are asking for privacy for not only our family, but for his friends as they heal during this difficult time. Please keep the positive thoughts coming and #PrayForJames.”
– Patrick McGinnis, Father, and family
