Woodlands HS senior remains hospitalized following emergency surgery after playoff game injury

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- A Woodlands High School senior football player remains in critical but stable condition at a Waco hospital. 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.

His father, Miles Milton, was in the stands at the game. "He had a headache," he said. "He put a towel over his head, and started vomiting. Then he passed out."

Grant loves football, his father said, but he also concedes it's a collision sport. He knew of no direct impact to the head during Saturday's game, and the cause for now, remains a mystery. "This could have been going on for a period of time, or that night. We're just not sure."

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's GoFundMe by clicking here.

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