A Bishop Feehan High School senior who was seriously injured during a hockey game this week had a "successful surgery," at Massachusetts General Hospital Wednesday night, according to the school's president.
Doctors were working to determine whether A.J. Quetta, a senior at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, would be able to move his body again after he slammed head first into the boards during a game against Pope Francis School in Springfield Tuesday night.
Bishop Feehan President Tim Sullivan added that there's a "long road ahead," for Quetta's recovery, that will include more surgeries.
Quetta's family is grateful for the outpouring of support from the school and the greater hockey community, according to Sullivan. He said Quetta's mother told him that the support is "getting them through" and that they are very moved.
"Our whole Feehan community -- the seniors, his classmates, student council -- everyone wants to do anything they can," Sullivan said, "and right now, the best thing we can do is pray for A.J.”
Both teams came together on the ice at Tuesday's game to pray for his recovery after he was rushed off to the hospital.
Sullivan said the school is working on putting together a prayer service.
"I think in a typical year we all would have been here last night with candles, or some version of that, and we couldn’t do that," he said.
Former Norwood hockey player Matt Brown is also offering support to Quetta.
"I hope they understand that they are not, by any means, going to go through this alone," he said. "It really hit home yesterday when I got the call, especially having my anniversary just five days ago."
Brown was just 15 when he was paralyzed from his neck down from a hit.
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"There's really no other way to put it — I'm sure that family is going through a nightmare right now," Brown said.
"It's so overwhelming, you don't even really know what end is up," said his father, Mike Brown.
The Greg Hill Foundation, which is raising money for the family to help pay for medical expenses, received a donation from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft for $25,000 Thursday.
The Boston Bruins are also sending best wishes to Quetta, issuing a statement that they are keeping him, his family and the community "in our hearts during this very difficult time."
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