JJ Watt donates $10K for Woodlands HS football player after playoff game injury

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- JJ Watt has donated $10,000 for the Woodlands HS football player in a coma. He donated with the message, "If there's anything that I can do to help, please let me know. Sending my best wishes to Grant and the entire Milton family."

Grant Milton underwent a two-hour emergency surgery to stop bleeding in the brain. The Conroe ISD said in a statement that he was injured during Saturday's game in Waco.

Milton's father issued a statement saying, "Grant continues in a comatose state and on ventilation. He does breathe more on his own than what the ventilator provides for him, which is another positive sign. We do not know what the road ahead looks like for him."

A fundraiser is being held for Milton today. The Chick-fil-A at Alden Bridge will be hosting a fundraiser from 2pm-6pm. Shirts with the hashtag #MiltonStrong21 will be sold for $15.

While Grant's mother and father are at his side in Waco, friends, and even strangers are trying to help them from home.

Dorothy Casey is a friend of Grant's mom. Her own son, Dylan, who's on the same team, was at the game that night. " It happened so fast. We saw a player put on a gurney and being run off the field. Then Dylan said, 'I think that's Grant's dad running beside them."

Casey and her son returned home. Then she turned to her computer and set up a GoFundMe campaign in Grant Milton's name.

"The first goal was for $5,000. We made that in a few hours, so I've kept raising it. The response has been more than I could have dreamed." The money will help pay for the family staying out of town with their son, and offset medical bills.

"Football families from across the area and the state have been sending in donations," she said. "They're concerned for each other."

Enoch Crossfit is having its grand opening Sunday in Conroe, and it's turning the event into a fundraiser for the Milton's, asking people to donate $20 to the family. Co-owner Jason Cooper is a critical care nurse by day, and knows how medical care can devastate finances, even with insurance.

"We can't be there for everybody," Cooper said, "but we can be there for this family, where that moment comes and they can say, 'People do care.'"

You can support the family via a GoFundMe account.

You can read that entry and more about Milton's progress on the family's Caring Bridge page.