ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Parkway North High School quarterback is adjusting to a new normal after a car accident left him seriously injured. The family of Sam Boydston says he’s already making huge strides and his community is rallying around him as he starts the road to recovery.

“To say that we are frightened and terrified would be an understatement,” Rob Boydston, Sam’s father, said.

Emotions are heavy with Sam’s family. The 16-year-old student-athlete continues to recover from a tragic car accident in late January that almost took his life.

Sam has already had four surgeries, including two to repair severe damage to his back.

Rob says football was Sam’s first love. He had dreams of playing in high school, college, and professionally.

By his junior year, Sam was the starting quarterback for Parkway North. Football coach Karl Odenwald spoke highly of Sam being a great leader and teammate.

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“(He is) one of our most committed, dedicated players. (He is) one of the best leaders that we have,” Odenwald said. “When things weren’t going great, (he would) try to rally the troops, and encourage his teammates.”

With the severity of his injuries, Sam’s football dreams are likely dashed. But his dedication to the sport is likely what saved his life.

“If it hadn’t been for how strong his core was and the muscles in his stomach and in his back and in his sides, this type of accident would have severed his spine,” Rob said. “That’s the squats, that’s the dips, that’s the weightlifting.”

Sam made remarkable progress during his 11-day stay in the hospital.

“They’re never going to bring me down,” Sam said.

Twenty-four hours after his second back surgery, Sam was able to stand

“Seeing that is when I realized how really blessed we are,” Rob said.

Not long after, Sam walked. His recovery is being documented on the Facebook page QB16 Sam Strong.

Messages of support continue to pour in across the Midwest, including from Mizzou football quarterback and St. Louis native Brady Cook.

“Keep fighting. Keep pushing. You got this,” Cook said in a video message.

On Tuesday, Sam was released from the hospital and will continue his road to recovery without patient care.

“I don’t think something like this could hold him down,” Rob said. “Regardless of what the outcome was going to be outside of death. When tragedy strikes, you know, just remember, they can’t keep you down.”

The family is bracing themselves for the road ahead. Recovery time is expected to be anywhere between one and two years. In the meantime, any people who want any updates on Sam’s condition can go to the Facebook page that has been set up at QB16 Sam Strong. The family is also raising money for medical expenses.

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