Satanta High School freshman Anthony Crump walked to the front of Midian Shrine Temple in Wichita Saturday to receive a special honor.
Crump received an invitation to attend the 2014 Kansas Shrine Bowl as a honorary member of the West Shrine Bowl team. The 2014 Kansas Shrine Bowl is scheduled July 26 at Pittsburg State University.
Crump cannot play football anymore because of a football-injury, but still loves the game.
Crump was injured on the first play of his high school career. He was airlifted from Satanta to Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center. The original prognosis convinced doctors it would take three to four years before Crump would walk again.
He sustained a broken C3 vertebrae, damaged tendons and spinal cord, and a hematoma in a Sept. 6, 2013 football opener against Goodwell, Okla.
Mark Calvin, Satanta athletic director, helped Crump’s cause when he messaged a Wichita friend, who happens to be a Midian Shriner.
Several days later, arrangements were made by the Midian Shriners to provide air transportation for Anthony to receive medical treatment at a Shriner’s children’s hospital in Chicago.
Crump was treated and underwent extensive physical therapy. He returned home Nov. 1, 2013 where he was able to walk onto the same football field where he sustained the injury. He presented the game ball to officials 62 days after his injury.
Calvin believes treatment was successful because Crump’s mother, Jeanette, and his grandmother, who are both nurses, helped the EMS crew by explaining exactly how the injury had occurred.
“It is a true success story, and both a medical miracle and a religious miracle for Anthony,” said Calvin, Satanta’s athletic director.  “He’s graduated from his therapy and there’s no need for him to have a neck brace.”
Crump had previously been nominated for the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Spirit of Sport Award.
The Shrine Bowl’s motto is justified — “Strong legs run, so weak legs can walk.”