Against the odds: Area athlete who suffered brain injury during game continues to make progress

Scott Akins
Scott Akins

The chicken and mashed potatoes that Scott Akins ordered for his first solid meal in almost a year represent another step on the path to recovery for the Simms, Texas, teen.

"He ordered chicken, corn and mashed potatoes. And ice cream for dessert. And tea, of course. And of course it was sweet tea," Scott's mother, Emilia Akins, said.

Scott was 17 and playing high school football for James Bowie School in Simms when he suffered a severe brain bleed from a hit.

His prognosis was initially very grim. Doctors did emergency surgery the night of the accident and removed part of Scott's skull to relieve pressure. He was then airlifted to Children's Hospital in Little Rock, where he remained for months.

Scott was in a coma for a couple of months, and doctors were fearful he would never talk or walk again. On Dec. 28, 2017, he said, "Mom."

Since then, he has slowly gained strength and even went home for a few months before going to TIRR Memorial Hermann (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) in Houston for rehab.

TIRR is a 134-bed hospital, rehabilitation and research center offering physical rehabilitation to patients following traumatic brain or spinal injury or suffering from neurological illnesses.

"We've been in Houston since June 20," Emilia Akins said. "It's been absolute chaos, overwhelming but amazing. It's coming up on a year since it happened and there are so many different emotions there are people who said he would never be where he is today."

Emilia stays in a donated camper at a nearby RV park when she's not with Scott.

Scott was recently admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston for an infection. But he is now back in TIRR and was expected to spend Labor Day weekend with his father while Emilia took a weekend break.

Scott has grown much stronger thanks to the therapy from TIRR, Emilia said.

"We literally hit the floor running in the morning with therapy and don't stop until after 5 p.m.," she said.

Scott's left side is still very weak because of two strokes he suffered as a result of the accident.

But there has been more movement recently.

"He can point a finger and give you a thumbs-up. It's very minor, but in our world it's a huge accomplishment," Emilia said.

He has also been able to push himself to a standing or sitting position and hold the position briefly.

"His core is weak but he was able to sit for a few seconds. It sounds crazy but it takes so much strength to do that," Emilia said.

He recently took off his shirt and put one back on.

"Bless his heart, it took him 30 minutes but he did it," Emilia Akins said.

He is up to 154 pounds now and is trying to maintain his weight. He still has a feeding tube for nourishment, though he is able to eat solid food. The goal is to get him off the feeding tube.

"It's amazing to watch him reach for a water bottle and take a drink. It is heart-wrenching to see him struggle to do something so simple but amazing also. He is talking more and able to say 'I'm hot' instead of me having to ask him if he's hot," Emilia Akins said.

He also controls the TV remote and is interested in watching football and replays of last year's games.

"He has come so far, he jokes and is in good spirits most of the time. He asks for the 'cute nurses,'" she said with a laugh.

While she is home in Simms this weekend, Emilia will be picking up Scott's football jersey so he can wear it every Friday night and keep up with the James Bowie games.

After he is released from TIRR, Scott will spend time in a post-acute hospital, possibly in Galveston or Dallas.

"I'm so grateful for where he is at today. But it's so hard when you see your kid going through something so hard," Emilia Akins said.

Anyone interested in following Scott's story can visit the "Pray for Scott Akins" Facebook page.

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