Elijah Herrera-Edison Charger Overcoming Odds

Elijah Herrera #9 Scoring Game Winning TD against Servite- (all photos via OCVARSITY.com)

As Edison heads into another difficult game this time against San Clemente, which will be aired on FoxSportWest & Primeticket this Friday night at 8:30 pm PST, I can't help but take a look back at what Elijah's had to overcome. First he was hit by a car while riding his bike home from surfing. He was very fortunate and only received injury to his foot and achilles. He was pretty scraped up and ended up in a walking cast. But we felt so blessed that he was kept safe. Nine months later, before he was to start his first Edison High School Freshman football practice, Elijah came down with the VERY serious Meningococcal Meningitis virus. He woke up early in the morning with a severe headache. I gave him Advil but it continued to get worse. It wasn't until I saw his hands "posturing" that I knew something was seriously wrong.

I was very familiar with this as my younger brother passed away after he received severe head trauma in a car accident. While in the hospital with him I noticed his hands moving stifly...to which the nurse replied, "It happens when there's brain trauma...it's involuntary and called posturing."

This "clue" I feel ended up being a blessing and a life saver for my son. I asked Elijah, "What are you doing with your hands." When he replied, "Nothing, why?"  I immediately got him to the hospital, still unaware of what exactly was wrong with him. After a spinal tap, the doctor's and nurses rushed into the room at a frantic pace with masks & gloves on and immediately moved us into isolation as they prepared to take him by ambulance to the Children's Hospital (CHOC in Orange). That is when we got the dismal news that he had the worst possible type of meningitis, bacterial. The side effects are severe (blindness, deafness, brain damage, gangrene, paralysis, and death.) It is one of the most deadly diseases and rarely leaves it's victims without its effects, if they survive.

Elijah spent a week in CHOC hospital with severe unbearable head & neck pain, while they continued to pump him with an IV full of all kinds of antibiotics. They continued to watch for signs of any other problems he may be developing while the bacteria sat in his brain & spinal fluid. He received visits from the OC Infectious Disease doctors and several others as they tried to figure out how he contracted it. The only thing we could come up with was that while boxing with his friends the night before, he received a blow to his face from a boxing glove and there may have been bacteria on the glove that traveled up through his nose.

They waited for his specific initial culture to grow out completely to make sure he was receiving the right treatment. But in the meantime, tons and tons of his friends were sending out mass text messages to be praying for him. Then a miracle happened...the initial bacteria completely stopped growing! The OC Infectious Disease Doctor said she had never seen anything like it. They continued to treat him for the initial findings and he began to heal. Slowly he got better without a single side effect! He eventually regained his strength and was back playing football...the sport he loves and has been playing since the age of 5 (on the exact same Edison football field that he plays on today!)

During his sophomore year, two of the running backs got hurt and they called him up from the JV team after he had a phenomenal game running the ball against Marina & Huntington Beach. He impressed the coaches and finished out the year as a the varsity running back. Then by his junior year, he again stepped into the running back position and outside linebacker. He helped lead the Chargers to an undefeated Sunset League Championship, set a school record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown~99 yards & led the team in touchdowns. As his Senior year gets started, he is currently a Co-Captain and leads the Chargers in tackles at the outside linebacker position and once again rotates in at running back.

His road hasn't been easy, but through a life threatening illness God has helped him to overcome the odds. He knows the importance of giving everything you have and never giving up, because dreams are too important and his story could have had a much different ending.

WINNING TOUCHDOWN CELEBRATION!

Elijah Running the ball against Mater Dei

THIS WEEKS GAME PREVIEW
 

Edison vs. Servite-On T.V. Friday Night

Tomorrow night will be another big football match up between #3 ranked Edison vs. #1 ranked Servite...AND you can watch it on Fox Sport West (FSN) Prime Ticket Friday Sept. 24, 2010 @ 7:30 p.m. (check your local listings).

This should prove to be a "MUST SEE" game-both teams are 3-0!

It'll be a great match up. We played Servite last year in the CIF finals & unfortunately due to the rain, we lost (read my post here).

This year we are the underdogs, (a young inexperienced team) however, Edison is used to being in this position. With no rain in the forecast, we have a GREAT shot at the upset.

We need to keep the penalties & turnovers to a minimum, execute the offense with precision & throw them off guard with our new quarterback, Chase Favreau who is very fast, a definite threat once he is forced out of the pocket.

The Chargers defense has been very strong & with our stand out defensive end, Charles Burks, they are going to have to find a way to slow him down.

With all the weapons, I think Servite will be surprised at the strength, determination, team work and "refuse to lose" attitude that the Chargers bring to the field on Friday night.

**Be sure to watch for my son #26, Elijah Herrera (he's a sophomore & plays on special teams).

~side note-The J.V. team beat Servite today 27-6.

And They Went Down...

Last Thursday our JV team lost (we are 2-1 now). It was as if the offense was asleep the whole game. The defense scored all of the points for our team, except for 2) & we were actually about to pull off the win...the offense only needed to score 1 touchdown, but they couldn't do it! We lost 16-10.

My son had one of his best games ever on defense. I was so proud of him, but I wish it could've ended with a win!

Here's some pics of our win 2 weeks ago against Long Beach Wilson (44-0).

OFFENSE

Check out the guy in the backgrounds face!
(double click to see larger)


My son #26 (Elijah) running the ball

Touchdown!



DEFENSE

Tackle in the backfield


and again!


What a stud!

FINAL SCORE

Go Edison Chargers!!

**~**This Friday night 9/24/10 @ 7:30 p.m., we will be on T.V. (Fox Sports Net Prime Ticket) playing Servite (private school)-the team that beat us last year in the CIF Championship game. Be sure to tune in & look for #26 Elijah Herrera (sophomore) on special teams!

FSN Prime Ticket - Friday Night

I wanted to let everyone know that my son's team will be on t.v. tomorrow night after the Dodger game, appx 10:30 - on FSN Prime Ticket - High School Game of the Week. It will replay on Monday Sept. 29th at 7:00 p.m. in CA, (not sure of the time in other states). I don't know how many states will be able to see it, but if you're sitting at home on a Friday night, TUNE IN!! It should be a really great game. My son is #9, and plays strong safety (defense) for Edison High School (we are Green Bay colors).

Jullien is REALLY nervous he said he doesn't want to mess up, especially on t.v. I've been trying to tell him NO ONE is perfect...and as long as he corrects himself, he will be fine! He doesn't want to hear it though...he's just a freak about it, even gets so worked up he throws up before every game!

Servite (the school we are playing) is selling programs for $10.00 and half of the profit will go to Luke Gane...very cool. http://lukegane.blogspot.com/ They will also show the interview with the Gane family. SO TUNE IN!!!