Darryl fights on

(The Northern Age)
Darryl fights on
Mike Sabin is proud of his 18-year-old son Darryl, who was continuing to fight for his life in the Critical Care Unit at Auckland Hospital yesterday afternoon.
Darryl suffered a severe head injury while playing rugby at Te Hapua on Saturday, Mike saying yesterday that he remained in a coma and on life support, but was fighting with all his strength.
“He’s young, he’s strong and he’s a battler, and he’s giving it all he’s got,” he said.
“His heart is almost beating out of his chest. He really does seem to be doing all he can.”
The official news, that his condition had been stabilised to the point where there was chance that he would survive, was not hugely positive but certainly wasn’t negative,” Mike added.
“We’ve learned over the last day or two to hold on to anything that isn’t as bad as it could be.
“It’s one small step out of this nightmare. I can tell you, this is a place where no parent wants to go. When you walk through the doors into the ward you enter a new life.”
The support Darryl and his family had received had been amazing, he said.
“People’s thoughts and prayers, there’s been so much good energy,” he said.
“A lot of people are in his corner, and that means a lot to all of us. And it’s all we’ve got  really. All we can do is wait and hope. We are very grateful to all those who have rallied behind us, and ask them to keep doing it.”
Darryl suffered his injury early in Saturday’s game. He was reportedly able to leave the field unaided but his condition deteriorated quickly, and he was flown by rescue helicopter to Whangarei. He was scanned there before being transferred to Auckland, where he underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.