As of early Sunday morning, a Go Fund Me Page for Orange junior varsity football player Tyce Oldenburg has raised $5,395 toward a goal of $100,000.
Oldenburg suffered a serious head injury in Thursday night’s junior varsity game against Hillside and was taken to Duke Hospital. He remains in a coma as of Sunday night and is listted in critical but stable condition.
A link to the Go Fund Me Page for Oldenburg can be found here.
Less than 24 hours after suffering the injury, Oldenburg underwent three emergency surgeries to reduce swelling on his brain, as well as bleeding on the brain. On Saturday night, his fever broke, which was a major step in his recovery.
In a message on his Go Fund Me Page, the family said the next 48 hours will be the most urgent in Oldenburg’s recovery because there will be a greater risk of swelling and bleeding on the brain.
Several hundred people, including Orange Principal Eric Yarbrough, Football Coach Van Smith and many player and classmates came out for a candlelight vigil at OHS on Sunday night.
Orange varsity running back Marvante Beasley was released from Duke Hospital on Saturday morning after being stretchered off the field during the Hillside game in Durham on Friday night. The belief is Beasley suffered a stinger, but he was carted off as a precautionary measure.
Beasley tweeted on Saturday morning that he’s already been cleared to play next Friday against Northwood, which will likely determine the Big 8 Championship. On Friday night, Smith said Beasley was telling EMS personnel that he didn’t need to be taken to a hospital and actually lobbied to return to the game.
Prayers for this young man and strength to the family.