Friends of Mason Martin, the Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School quarterback who suffered a brain injury on Sept. 1 during a game, enjoys a visit from his friends as he continues to recover at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. His father, Denny Martin, thanked Mason’s friends, coaches and school staff in a Saturday post on his Facebook page.

Challenges and triumphs continue for Mason Martin as he recovers at the UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, according to a Facebook update by his dad, Denny Martin.

The Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School quarterback collapsed at a game Sept. 1 after suffering a brain injury.

In the Saturday morning post, Martin called Mason’s month of May “very interesting.” Although Martin hoped to take his son home in April, setbacks have prevented that and Mason remains in the hospital.

He said the main concern was Mason’s restlessness, agitation and discomfort as he dozes off, sleeps for 20 to 30 seconds, then awakens with tense muscles and a significantly increased heart rate.

“This, too, would last about 30 seconds and then his body would just let go and relax,” Martin wrote. “This cycle would start all over again and continue all day.”

He was given Valium on a few occasions so he could calm down and get some much-needed rest, Martin said.

He reported that while Mason has slept fairly well overnight for the past week, the episodes of muscle tightness continue during the day.

While doctors wondered if the episodes could be from pure exhaustion or the stimulants he was prescribed, which have been reduced as his brain has healed, they ordered an X-ray of Mason’s stomach because it has been a trouble area since his injury.

The test revealed one of the tubes in his stomach was coiled, and that issue was repaired Thursday. Martin said he continues to receive Botox injections to improve mobility as well.

He said therapy sessions have been “hit or miss” and no “wow moments” really occurred in May, but Martin said he continues to feel blessed and grateful in the face of his son’s recuperation.

Martin expressed his appreciation for the focus on Mason at the Karns City Jr./Sr. High School graduation, which was held May 30.

“That meant so much to me and it was a very emotional time for me,” Martin wrote. “He is blessed to have grown up with amazing classmates raised by amazing parents.

“Thank you to all the teachers, coaches and administrators that have helped mold Mason into the man he is today.”

Martin went on to specify three friends of Mason’s, Tyler, Taite and Levi, who he said have been with his son in every step of the difficult journey he is on.

“They were there the first night and they have shown up to visit every weekend for the last nine months,” Martin said. “Their commitment and loyalty to Mason is undeniable.”

He said Mason hears all the latest happenings from the trio of young men, who are mentioned in a journal entry Mason wrote one week before his injury.

Martin shared the entry in his Facebook post, in which Mason calls the three friends “family.”

“Most people in their lifetime are lucky to have found even one friend like this,” Mason wrote. “I am very grateful to have found three.”

As always, Martin signed off on his post with “Jeremiah 29:11.”