NOCONA, Texas (KAUZ) – Two weeks after a mid-game injury left Nocona running back Jose Gomez with a brain bleed, his community is rallying to aid in his recovery.
Gomez hit his head hard on the ground in the third quarter of Nocona’s game against Alvord while being tackled. Initially, he went back into the game to keep playing, but after showing symptoms he came out of the game just one play later. Shortly afterward, he was being airlifted to a hospital in Fort Worth for treatment.
His head coach, Blake Crutsinger, said it was as tense a moment as he has seen on a football field.
“It was about as scary as I can remember as a coach. I’ve had a lot of kids, you know I’ve gone to see a lot of kids in the hospital, but I’ve never seen them get strapped to a gurney and put in a careflight so it was pretty sobering,” Crutsinger said.
Two weeks later, Gomez, his family and friends and community members from around Nocona got together for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Nocona Church of Christ hosted the fundraiser with help from Grace & Grit Boutique to help cover Gomez’s medical expenses.
Gomez is home now and recovering, but Crutsinger said Gomez still has a ways to go.
“Very uncertain at this point. Now he’s having some other issues that have arose after, and so right now you know, it’s just kinda day by day seeing how he’s feeling. You know we’re just praying for him and hoping he gets better as quick as possible,” Crutsinger said.
As the community is working to help Gomez, Kash Johnson, one of Gomez’s teammates, said that Gomez has always been willing to help others.
“He’s a good guy, one of the best I know. He’s a hard worker. I’ve worked with him multiple times and just overall he’ll be there for you like how I said. You need some money, he’ll come up or figure a way out and be there for you. He’s a very good friend, one of my dearest,” Johnson said.
“Nocona’s treated everyone like a family. No matter who you are, everyone’s family and they’re gonna support us no matter what” Johnson added.
Grace and Grit Boutique will also hold a Sip N Shop tomorrow, Oct. 11, from 6-8 p.m. with 10% of proceeds going to the Gomez family.
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