Luther football player injured in Saturday's game showing some improvement

Injured Luther College football player Chris Norton

(Luther College has posted a web page about injured football player Chris Norton.  You can log onto: http://sports.luther.edu/men/football/season/2010/news/chrisnorton.htm)

Chris Norton, a freshman member of the Luther College football team, was seriously injured late in Saturday's football game against Central College.  Chris is the son of Terry and Deb Norton of Altoona, Iowa and has two sisters, Alex and Katie.

The injury came during a kick-off late in the fourth quarter.  Chris remained motionless on the ground for 25 minutes.  With players from both teams kneeling on one knee and the entire stadium silent, the Luther training staff and local paramedics attended to Norton, who was taken to Winneshiek Medical Center, then airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Information from Chris's family is posted on his Caring Bridges website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisnorton

On the website, Chris's family reports that x-rays showed that his neck was fractured and his spinal cord was compressed.  He was placed in traction, and soon after underwent a three-hour surgery, which the neurologist told the family was successful and promising.

Sunday morning, Chris was recovering from the surgery and injury, and he was able to move both arms.  His family reports this movement below the injury site is very promising and indicates his recovery is going quicker than expected.

Family members are regularly posting updates on the Caring Bridges website, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisnorton.