Alexandria player sustained severe spinal cord injury in January

On January 24 while playing in Burnaby, British Columbia, Jackson Drum sustained a severe spinal cord injury. While battling for the puck behind his net, he fell and slid into the boards head first. Trainers from both teams rushed to his side and saw that Jackson wasn’t breathing. An airway was quickly established with the help of a firefighter who happened to be watching the game.

Hockey has always been Jackson’s sport. He played baseball and football for a while, but from the time he started playing squirts in Alexandria, Minnesota, hockey was number one. He’d shovel a small rink on the lake he and his family live on and skate for hours. He’d even bring portable lights down the hill from his house so he could keep skating after dark.

After playing junior varsity for Alexandria High School, his freshman and sophomore years Jackson got the opportunity to play with Coeur D’Alene Hockey Academy (CDL) in Idaho. He’s been totally committed to hockey and his education since making the thousand mile move to Idaho late last summer. This season Jackson has maintained a 3.8 GPA while playing with CDL’s U17 prep team. His goal is to earn a college hockey scholarship.

After his injury Jackson was taken to Vancouver General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to fuse his C1 and C2 vertebrae. The surgery stabilized his spine, but he couldn’t move anything from his neck down.

The doctors didn’t hold out much hope of his regaining much, if any movement. In fact, they said he was lucky to be alive. 

Jackson is a very determined young man and refused to believe that he wouldn’t move again. As the days progressed, Jackson started feeling some sensation in parts of his body and has even moved the muscles in his left leg. 

After a bit over two weeks in the Vancouver hospital Jackson was moved to Atlanta’s Shepherd Center via a critical care flight. Shepherd Center specializes in spinal cord rehabilitation and is currently helping him regain the ability to breathe without a ventilator and sitting up in a wheelchair. Last week he started to move the fingers on his left hand.

Jackson’s stay at Shepherd Center is just getting started. No one knows how long he’ll need to stay in Atlanta. There are many hurtles to cross. 

Once his rehab has progressed the goal is to bring him home to Alexandria to be with his family. All of this comes at a huge financial cost. Their home will need extensive modifications before he comes home, and a wheelchair accessible vehicle will be needed. 

Friends and strangers as well as hockey communities from all corners of the US and Canada have stepped up and sent prayers and donations to the fund established to help pay Jackson’s medical costs. If you’re able, please contribute to the Give Send Go fund in his name: www.givesendgo.com/prayforjackson

You can link to the site by using the QR code.

Jackson and his family are very grateful to everyone for the prayers, cards, letters and donations he’s received so far. A special thanks goes to the Alexandria and Coeur D’Alene hockey communities and the BWC Academy in Burnaby, BC for their help.

Jackson says that with your prayers and his hard work he will beat these terrible injuries and play hockey again.  If you’d like to follow Jackson on his road to recovery you can follow his Facebook page: 97s Journey – Jackson Drum

You’ll be able to follow his progress and even send him a card or letter encouraging him to keep fighting. 

 A benefit is being set up for Jackson on Saturday April 12th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the NorthStar Sports Complex in Alexandria. The address is 3870 Pioneer Road SW, Alexandria. There will be food, games, music and prizes as well as a silent auction and a raffle for some great prizes. If you’re in the area, please try to attend.

If you’re a business or individual who would like to donate any kind of prize for the benefit, please contact Jennifer Vraa at vraalegacy@gmail.com or call (320) 815-4267.