CHAPEL HILL (KYTX) - 14-year-old Chapel Hill freshman Dorian Timmons is in a coma at a Tyler hospital. His father says a helmet-to-helmet injury caused his son to have a seizure and then went unconscious.
Dorian's mother, Tracey, says Dorian is slowly but surely recovering. She says Thursday, he was able to move his head more and wiggle his toes for the first time. She says he even squeezed her hand- a very emotional moment for her. The family is grateful for all the support and prayers from the community.
"Coming up to us, praying with us, and just being an encouragement. And, the team even gave us a team ball." says Tracey.
The football with all of Dorian Timmons's teammate's signatures means a lot for his mother, Tracey.
"I mean, I appreciate everybody so much." she says. "All the love and support, it's just, it's amazing."
One of those signatures belongs to teammate and cousin, Brysien Cross.
"We just talked about how we just shouldn't give up because we know that he would want us to keep pushing because that's the kind of person he is," says Cross.
A fighter, and a jokester is how Dorian's oldest brother, Darius Black, would describe him.
"Comedian. One word, comedian."
Darius says smiles and laughter is what Dorian would want for the family during this tough time.
"For me, it's like.. Words can't even explain it. I don't even know where to begin with what I would do without my little brother."
"I love him, I mean his entire family, the community, everybody just loves him." says his mother, Tracey.
Brysien says his cousin was on the field in spirit tonight, helping them keep their chins up after their loss against the Gilmer Buckeyes. The end score- a close 20 to 18.
"I'm sure we'd feel a lot better. We probably would have played a lot better, but you never know." he says.
"He is slowly but surely improving." says Tracey.
"That's my best friend." says Darius. "Whether he knows it or not, that's my best friend. And, I look up to him because he's so much of a strong fighter."
Dorian plays defense and running back on the Bulldogs' freshman team. The head coach tells CBS19 his teammates go to the hospital to check on him every day.
A donation fund has been set up at Southside bank to help the Timmons family with medical expenses.
