‘Little miracles’ of Mason Martin’s recovery to be focus of July event
As Mason Martin continues his journey to recovery, the Karns City community will have a chance to celebrate the “little miracles” that have happened along the way.
The community is invited to gather July 20 at Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School, where Mason Martin’s father, Denny, will share updates with the community at the “I Believe” event.
“For the first time, hear Denny Martin share about the miracles Mason experienced on those first harrowing days of his life-changing injury. Let's join together to hear his story and to pray for his next miracle,” a Facebook post about the event said.
Mason Martin was a quarterback for Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School’s football team when he was injured and collapsed on the field Sept. 1, 2023, suffering a brain bleed and collapsed lung. He was discharged from the hospital nine months later.
Denny Martin is hosting the event along with Pete Sapp, a pastor at Trinity Church in Bradys Bend, who Denny has credited with being very supportive throughout Mason’s recovery.
“Trinity Church, they are organizing and taking the forefront, going along with my input and my vision,” Martin said. “I believe the event is going to send a message, mean different things for different people, use Mason’s testimony and the miracles God has provided and God’s presence in our lives.”
Denny Martin has remained heavily involved in the Karns City community. On Sunday, June 1, he spoke at the high school auditorium for the senior blessing tradition. However, July 20 is the first time he will openly talk to the public about the aftermath of Mason’s injury and the recovery process.
“It’s fitting to have the event on that football field. He had his injury there. We had the prayer vigil there, which jump-started things that have taken place. We’re at a point now where this is a great place to have this type of event,” Martin said.
All the details are not yet in place for the event, but so far it will include singer Isabel Valasek performing several songs, followed by a group prayer led by Denny Martin.
Martin’s injury was tough for the entire community, Sapp said. The football games are well attended at Karns City, and a lot of people saw the injury occur. Sapp said it’s important to continue community efforts to rally around the Martin family while hoping for a full recovery some day.
“Mason was injured that September, and we’ll be coming up on two years” Sapp said. “Right after his injury, we found out how serious it was, basically he was in need of a miracle. The community gathered together in different ways. We had a prayer vigil outside the hospital room. We had a big event up at the football field that drew folks in, where we unified in prayer and supported each other.”
Sapp said he expects Denny Martin will mostly speak about the first three days following the night of Mason’s injury, where he saw some of those “little miracles” take place. He also expects him to thank the community for all its love and support.
Sapp said those helping out with the event include people from different area churches and local fire departments. The Karns City Believers in Christ club, a student group at the high school, will be handing out bracelets to attendees.
Martin said his son’s recovery ebbs and flows, but lately he has been doing well and has seen improvement.
With this being the first time Denny and Mason will be back on that football field, it’s a big step in Mason’s recovery, Sapp said.
“The community had already been supporting Stacey (Mason’s late mother); when Mason got injured it was a double blow. People’s hearts went out to them in such a way, I’ve never seen anything of this magnitude,” Sapp said. “We live in an area where people are very good with supporting one another.”
Stacey Martin died from cancer just over a month after Mason was hospitalized.
The event will be held at 7 p.m. July 20 at Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School, 108 Baker Lane.
