Quarterback returned from surgery

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -A Brookland Cayce High School football player is especially grateful after dealing with the aftermath of major surgery. Drevon Dopson played in eight games last season after undergoing emergency surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) in July.

“What I saw in the hospital was very scary,” said Dopson’s mother, Octicious Dopson.

“I noticed I was getting tired quicker,” Drevon Dopson said.

His mother said he was in and out of the hospital struggling with symptoms of UC, an inflammatory disease that causes ulcers in the large intestine. The disease is usually treated among people between the ages of 15 and 30, health experts say.

“I’ve noticed he’s losing weight. I even told him and his dad about it. He doesn’t look the same,” said Rusty Charpia, head football coach at Brookland Cayce.

Drevon Dopson further explained, “I was feeling dizzy… I was feeling dizzy.”

After doctors prescribed him medication, Drevon continued to attend football camps and practices this past summer.

“He fell ill after the mercenary camp in July. I came home on Sunday. We took him to the hospital. “That’s when we realized everything started to change.”

Drevon’s mother said Drevon collapsed in his hospital room and doctors had to perform emergency surgery to remove 90% of his colon.

Dopson was hospitalized for ten days, hooked up to feeding tubes, and the doctor had to install a colostomy bag.

“He was a difficult man. It was very difficult to see him go through this,” said his father, Andre Dopson.

“At first I thought I wouldn’t be able to play again,” Drevon said.

But almost miraculously, Doctors told Octiivous Dopson that Drevon was making a rapid recovery. We say it usually takes a year for a person to recover from Drevon surgery. Drevon recovered in about two months.

Dopson later returned to football practice with his colostomy bag from surgery still on.

“His protective PPE is on. Everything was wrapped. He also had a flack jacket on,” said Allen Knotts

He is a board member for Lexington School District Two and an assistant coach at Brookland Cayce.

And last September, Dopson returned to the field.

“I was a little nervous my first game. But after the first couple of games I was doing pretty well. I have completed passes. I was fine after that,” Dopson said.

“I think this is the first game we won. We had a tough year to start,” said coach Charpia.

As they reflect on this year’s journey, the Dopsons have a lot to be thankful for.

“I thank God… He’s still keeping me here,” Drevon said.

“God blessed me and he blessed my son,” Andre Dopson said.

“And being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with family, with everyone… It’s just a blessing from God,” Octicious Dopson said.

Drevon Dopson said his colostomy bag is scheduled to be removed in December and he is expected to be 100% healthy by the time he is a senior next year.

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