Ryan Shazier's dad: Son is improving.

[SOCALSTEEL]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsspo ... icane/amp/


It's been nearly three weeks since Ryan Shazier's terrifying back injury that resulted in spinal stabilization surgery and the end of his season, but the status of his health remains unknown. On Thursday, Shazier's father, Vernon, provided a positive but vague update in an interview with ESPN.
According to Vernon, Shazier is improving. But Vernon declined to offer any specifics.
"We have seen some improvement that is encouraging," Vernon said. "We're taking it one day at a time. We do not know what tomorrow holds. It's a [daily] journey we don't know. But I know God is getting the message."
Vernon compared the situation to a "category 5 [hurricane]," but said that they are maintaining their faith.
"It's easy to be faithful in a storm, but we're not talking about a drizzle," Vernon said. "We're talking about a hurricane, a category 5 [hurricane], lots of metaphors to describe it."
Shazier suffered the injury in the early going of the Steelers' win over the Bengals on Dec. 4 when he made a tackle with his head down. After spending minutes on the ground, he was carted off the field on a stretcher and went directly to the hospital. Two days later, he underwent surgery to stabilize his spine. The Steelers then placed him on injured reserve. A week ago, he started rehab. At this point, without any specific updates, Shazier's future in football seems trivial compared to his ability to live a normal life.
Still, Shazier has tried to remain involved with the team as they head to the playoffs. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin revealed that Shazier wants to game-plan with Tomlin during hospital visits. On Sunday, Shazier showed up to Heinz Field to watch from a suite as the Steelers battled the Patriots. When he was shown on the big screen, the crowd greeted him with a huge ovation.

Vernon told ESPN that public support has helped keep their spirits up.

"You've got little kids that are praying for him. He has over a million people praying for him," Vernon said. "It's coming from so many different sources. ... I got an email from a kid who has a medical issue, where Ryan has touched his heart. You have kids wishing Ryan gets better for Christmas. It's keeping us up."
He wasn't, however, ready to answer the question that those who feel the negative effects of the inherently violent nature of football are often forced to answer: Is playing football even worth it?
"The reality of the game is that it's a violent sport. I naturally pray for those guys going out there every game," Vernon said. "Any day there's a football game playing, I'm praying. About whether people should play, I don't think I'm at that point to think about it."
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[SOCALSTEEL]

Let’s hope part of Shazier’s rehab program is lifting the Lombardi.

Believe

[Legacy User]

Nice, thanks for sharing SoCal

[Steelcody7]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

[V DUB]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

Dick move. I hate atheists pushing their agenda as much as I hate Jehovah witnesses knocking on my door. Jehovah's witnesses are at least fucking polite.

[Legacy User]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

Dick move. I hate atheists pushing their agenda as much as I hate Jehovah witnesses knocking on my door. Jehovah's witnesses are at least fucking polite.

Completely agree Van.

[Legacy User]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

You can no more prove there isn't a God than anyone can prove there is one. Therefore, everyone should be pretty humble about their beliefs. Those who act like they know for sure one way or the other are obnoxious.

And besides. Even if belief in God is a silly fable, it is a silly fable that is helping Shaz and his family get through a very difficult time. Who are you to criticize?

[Legacy User]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

You can no more prove there isn't a God than anyone can prove there is one. Therefore, everyone should be pretty humble about their beliefs. Those who act like they know for sure one way or the other are obnoxious.

And besides. Even if belief in God is a silly fable, it is a silly fable that is helping Shaz and his family get through a very difficult time. Who are you to criticize?

Ignorant fucks are gonna be ignorant.

[86n96]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

As a non-theist myself, I hope you get hit by a bus on Christmas day.

[Steelraptor]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

Hahaha! Couldn't have said it better myself Cody.

[Kodiak]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

You have to be a serious fucking loser cunt to post a political message in a thread like this.

[Kodiak]

As a non-theist myself, I hope you get hit by a bus on Christmas day.

Actually, I'd laugh if the rescue vehicle crashed....

[V DUB]

Ignoring the absolute fuckhead comments, I'm glad they're keeping a positive attitude. From watching Ryan being so positive in the press box, I'm sure that flows down hill. I couldn't imagine even talking to the press if it was my boy.

[Jobu]

Well it didn’t take long for this one to go south...

[R_S]

Silly religious people!

"God got the message". God must've decided to take yo boys legs too.

Dumbass sheep.

A family in crisis. And you bash something that gives them comfort. Beyond pathetic. I'm still amazed by what people will say behind their keyboard. If you don't think the mind has positive effects on healing then you're dumber than I've always thought, and that's saying a lot.

Ban this piece of shit, hillbilly, loser.

[Steelafan77]

(I'd rather believe and it not be true than not believe and it be true.)

So happy to hear of Shaziers health recovery. Such a positive result for such a tragic event. Continue to get well.... Merry Christmas!

[Steelraptor]

Wow! He wasn't attacking Shazier or his family, he was simply pointing out the silly thought that prayer was going to help him heal when God put him there in the first place.
However, I understand the outrage from all you fine upstanding Christian individuals, and I too would love to see Cody killed by a bus, banned and forever damned to hell for his beliefs. Lol. Love me some hypocrisy.

[Steelafan77]

Never indicated any judgement on anyone raptor. Everyone is entitled to believe what they want to. Have a happy holiday sir.

[R_S]

Wow! He wasn't attacking Shazier or his family, he was simply pointing out the silly thought that prayer was going to help him heal when God put him there in the first place.
However, I understand the outrage from all you fine upstanding Christian individuals, and I too would love to see Cody killed by a bus, banned and forever damned to hell for his beliefs. Lol. Love me some hypocrisy.

Calling someone an insensitive dipshit has nothing to do with my beliefs. I'm not religious AT ALL. It's called human decency. Which should be UNIVERSAL.

And nice spin on Cody not attacking the families religious beliefs...but nobody is going to buy that.

[Steelraptor]

RS and Steelafan. I was trying to relay what Cody was saying in a more PC way then the way he said it. As a fellow atheist I understand where he is coming from and he incited anger which I understand. He could have been more tactful that is for sure. I respect everyone's views "I am a contractor in Saudi Arabia right now so I get it". Very nice people by the way. Steelafan I appreciate your views and happy holidays to you too. RS I also appreciate your views, however when a person is threatened with death for the beliefs it upsets me. Wish you all well.

[jeemie]

RS and Steelafan. I was trying to relay what Cody was saying in a more PC way then the way he said it. As a fellow atheist I understand where he is coming from and he incited anger which I understand. He could have been more tactful that is for sure. I respect everyone's views "I am a contractor in Saudi Arabia right now so I get it". Very nice people by the way. Steelafan I appreciate your views and happy holidays to you too. RS I also appreciate your views, however when a person is threatened with death for the beliefs it upsets me. Wish you all well.

Actually, as a fellow atheist, my take is Cody didn’t have to say anything at all.

Who here benefitted from such a message?

[Steelraptor]

He was stating a point in a very hateful way. He is young and bitter, hopefully he will come around. I understand what he was saying, but in this society he could have been more tactful.

[R_S]

RS and Steelafan. I was trying to relay what Cody was saying in a more PC way then the way he said it. As a fellow atheist I understand where he is coming from and he incited anger which I understand. He could have been more tactful that is for sure. I respect everyone's views "I am a contractor in Saudi Arabia right now so I get it". Very nice people by the way. Steelafan I appreciate your views and happy holidays to you too. RS I also appreciate your views, however when a person is threatened with death for the beliefs it upsets me. Wish you all well.

I respects peoples religion. Despite whether I believe in it or not. Cody is the worst kind of atheist. The kind that laughs in someone's face and openly derides someone's faith for simply mentioning god and prayers.

It's people like him that give atheists a bad name. I wouldn't want someone like that representing my beliefs or lack there of.

Hahaha! Couldn't have said it better myself Cody.

If you actually respect everyone's views as you say, this would not have been your first reaction.

[Steelraptor]

You're right RS I shouldn't have gloated with the comment. As a fellow atheist when someone comes out and agrees with your beliefs it is surprising and validating. I shouldn't have approved of that behavior, period. Now I am just trying to correct that mistake. I am very tolerant of all religions. It's just so seldom to find a fellow atheist, that I got carried away. I apologize for that.

[Steelraptor]

I still don't care for the wish of him dying because of his beliefs though.

[COR-TEN]

The kind that laughs in someone's face and openly derides someone's faith for simply mentioning god and prayers.

It's people like him that give atheists a bad name.

That may be true, but theists have been shoving god and prayers down society's throats for a couple of millennia. We are to accept the inclusion of god into culture without question, especially after all the harm it has done.

I personally don't care what people think, but when someone says something against religion or its followers (however insensitive and without tact it might be), the first reaction is to tell them not to criticize and are labeled as "just as arrogant as theists." Which isn't true in light of the history of religion and how atheists are considered pariahs.

But this thread is supposed to be about Shaz. Inserting an opinion about someone's beliefs isn't necessary. It's actually highjacking the thread.

I wish Shaz and his family all the strength and luck possible.

[R_S]

You're right RS I shouldn't have gloated with the comment. As a fellow atheist when someone comes out and agrees with your beliefs it is surprising and validating. I shouldn't have approved of that behavior, period. Now I am just trying to correct that mistake. I am very tolerant of all religions. It's just so seldom to find a fellow atheist, that I got carried away. I apologize for that.

Well done Raptor. happy holidays to you.

[Steelraptor]

You too RS. Saudi Arabia is such a different place, but they want and do the same things we do. It's crazy over here to see the similarities. I love that I get to travel and experience these things. The people are so warm and actually love America and their country. I feel humbled. Sorry if I came across crass I just got carried away.

[R_S]

The kind that laughs in someone's face and openly derides someone's faith for simply mentioning god and prayers.

It's people like him that give atheists a bad name.

That may be true, but theists have been shoving god and prayers down society's throats for a couple of millennia. We are to accept the inclusion of god into culture without question, especially after all the harm it has done.

I personally don't care what people think, but when someone says something against religion or its followers (however insensitive and without tact it might be), the first reaction is to tell them not to criticize and are labeled as "just as arrogant as theists." Which isn't true in light of the history of religion and how atheists are considered pariahs.

But this thread is supposed to be about Shaz. Inserting an opinion about someone's beliefs isn't necessary. It's actually highjacking the thread.

I wish Shaz and his family all the strength and luck possible.

I don't know Cor-Ten, in our little online community here I didn't see anyone tell Cody he was going to burn in hell. Just that he is an insensitive dickbag.

Whatever gives Shaziers family comfort, positive thoughts (which have been proven to improve health) and hope, I'm all for it. He needs every advantage he can get.

Being critical of that is a dick move, and christian violence during The Reformation of 1500 doesn't give it validation in 2017

[Steelraptor]

Alright RS I get we all want Shazier to get well, however I would like to know where this is coming from, "positive thoughts (which have been proven to improve health)". I believe science will help Shazier improve, not some thought process. I just read an article that said thousands in Africa were dying from snake bites because they went to local shaman's. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/20/africa
Please sure your source