CJW Sports Medicine Awards College Scholarships to Local Athletes
Two Comeback Athletes of the Year Receive $1000 Scholarships
Richmond, VA, June 11, 2009 - Two Richmond area high school athletes were honored this week for their efforts in reaching their full athletic potential after missing at least two months of participation in their sports due to serious injury. Manchester High School student Chelsea Derr and Chris Harper, Senior at Freeman High School received their awards as part of the Richmond Times-Dispatch/Sports Backer’s Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner held June 8 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA. In addition to the student scholarships, $500 is awarded to the athletic department of the recipient’s high school in their honor.
“Our Comeback Athlete Awards are our way of recognizing the extreme dedication and commitment it takes for a student athlete to focus on recovering from an injury,” said Dr. Douglas Cutter, CJW Sports Medicine Medical Director. “Through our five sports medicine locations, our team works with countless athletes who are rehabilitating serious athletic injuries before returning full time to their sports."
Chelsea is a three-sport athlete participating in cross country, indoor track and soccer. In November 2007, doctors discovered a tumor growing inside her spinal cord that needed to be removed surgically. Post-surgery, Chelsea lost all fine and gross motor skills as well as joint perception. After months of physical and occupational therapy, she slowly regained the ability to walk again and finally in April 2008, she was cleared by her doctors to participate in sports again. Though she is still not fully recovered, her diminished athletic abilities have in no way dampened her enthusiasm and love for sports.
In 2005, Chris suffered from a fractured skull and two pseudo aneurysms on his carotid artery after involvement in a jet-ski accident. He was hospitalized for three weeks after surgery and his doctors told him that contact sports would be out of the question for the foreseeable future. While healing, Chris still went to football practice everyday and served as a coach’s assistant. He was completely cleared to return to athletics in the spring of 2007 and had a successful lacrosse season. Shortly after the season ended, Chris’ left femur snapped when a tractor rolled onto him at this farm. He then had to undergo surgery to repair his leg. After 5 months of rehabilitation, Chris was able to return to football for his senior year, starting in all 11 games and will continue his dream of playing football at Virginia Military Institute.
About CJW Medical Center
CJW Medical Center has 758 beds on its two campuses. Chippenham Hospital, in the city of Richmond, offers a state-designated level III trauma center, The Levinson Heart Hospital and Tucker Pavilion; while Johnston-Willis Hospital, in Chesterfield County, offers the Thomas Johns Cancer Hospital and the Neuroscience & Gamma Knife Center. CJW Medical Center is a member of HCA Virginia Health System. www.CJWMedical.com
About HCA Virginia Health System – Central Virginia Market
With 1,800 beds, more than 6,600 employees and 1,600 affiliated physicians, the Central Virginia team of HCA Virginia Health System is the largest and most comprehensive healthcare provider and one of the largest private employers in Central Virginia. In Central Virginia, HCA Virginia Health System operates six hospital campuses along with freestanding surgery, imaging and family health centers. Our hospitals include Chippenham Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, John Randolph Medical Center, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Parham Doctors’ Hospital and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital. Both CJW Medical Center and Henrico Doctors’ Hospital have been named HealthGrades ‘America’s 50 Best Hospitals’ in 2007 and 2008. They are the only Virginia hospitals to earn this distinction two years in a row. For more information or to select a physician, please contact 804-320-DOCS or visit www.HCAvirginia.com.
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Chippenham Hospital and Johnston-Willis Hospital are campuses of CJW Medical Center. Parham Doctors’ Hospital and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital are campuses of Henrico Doctors’ Hospital
Media Contact:
JC Sadler
(804) 201-6543
JC.Sadler@HCAhealthcare.com
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