Archer HS football star suffers traumatic brain injury, family says

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A Lawrenceville family needs help making ends meet after their loved one suffered a potentially life-changing injury during a high school football game.

OJ Appiah, a senior linebacker at Archer High School, reportedly collapsed shortly after beating Harrison High School on Nov. 15. Not only was Appiah named one of the Players of the Game, but FOX 5 High 5 Sports also named the Archer Tigers our Team of the Week.

"He was so excited for this last game that he played," Joanna Paradiso, who identified herself as Appiah's older sister, told FOX 5 Atlanta. "He knew there would be scouts, scouters there."

His excitement was short-lived. Appiah had just finished shaking hands with his opponents when he realized something was wrong.

"All of a sudden he went to his coach and said that he was feeling dizzy, and they had him sit down, and he just passed out," his sister explained.

Paradiso said medics quickly confirmed he suffered a serious brain bleed and would need further attention.

"He barely had a pulse, and they had to rush him to a hospital immediately," she recalled.

He was taken to Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. From there, doctors got to work performing emergency surgery on Appiah—removing part of his skull to reduce severe swelling around his brain.

"They actually removed a flap from his skull which is still off," Paradiso said.

OJ Appiah (Credit: GoFundMe)

His life-threatening health scare sent shock waves through the school community and leaves his family praying he pulls through. 

"Last few days have been hard because he’s in a lot of pain. They’ve had to kind of sedate him, his blood pressure has been elevated, he’s been getting fevers because of the brain bleeds a lot, but he’s getting better," Paradiso told FOX 5.

Paradiso said her brother has shown some improvement and is now breathing on his own, but his future football career is hanging in the balance.

"We’re just taking it one day at a time. Right now, he’s only able to communicate with his fingers and his toes," Paradiso said. "He was so ready, but God had other plans."

The family has started an online fundraiser to try and cover his medical bills.