Plevretes set on making a full recovery

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
Sept. 13, 2006

Preston Plevretes, the La Salle football player who was seriously injured during a game against Duquesne last year, was back on the field on Aug. 31.

Although he wasn’t playing-Preston served as the Explorers’ “honorary captain” at their first night game - he sat on the field in a wheelchair, surrounded by his teammates.

Preston suffered two strokes almost one year ago, after sustaining an injury to his skull upon impact with another player’s helmet. Doctors weren’t sure if he would live, yet he has made slow and steady progress over the past few months.

“It’s best in a case like Preston’s for the progress to go slowly,” Preston’s mother, Tammy Plevretes, said. “If he got a lot better all of a sudden, there would have been less of a chance of continuous improvement.”

Right now, Preston can walk short distances, yet speaking remains difficult. “Preston is all there, but he can’t connect what he wants to say with the actual words,” Tammy said.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Preston goes to a day program, undergoing speech, physical and occupational therapy, in addition to attending psychological therapy, “to keep his spirits up,” Tammy said.

In physical therapy, Preston lifts small weights, and even tosses around a small football in order to strengthen his hands. He undergoes pool therapy, strengthening his muscles in the water, and works on walking. Occupational therapy involves playing air hockey, singing songs and participating in word and memory games.

On the remaining days of the week, Preston stays at home, playing games like Simon, an electronic memory exercise, with his mom and climbing stairs and stretching with his dad, Ted Plevretes.

Preston’s eagerness to work towards a full recovery is apparent to his mother when he takes the initiative to work on his therapy.

“Preston will send me a text message saying, ‘Let’s play games,’” she said.

Bill Gerzabek, La Salle’s director of sports medicine, saw Preston once a week after he was injured, and saw that Preston’s drive as an athlete had carried over into his desire to recover as quickly as possible.

“Being an athlete has both hurt and helped Preston,” Gerzabek said. “He has the drive to recover 100 percent, but he wants it to happen right away, which can be frustrating for him.”

Watching his teammates in action has also been a source of frustration for Preston. Seeing his friends always lifts his spirits, but the fact that he can’t participate often brings him down.

Preston’s ultimate goal is to return to La Salle as a student next fall with his younger brother Perry. Perry was accepted to La Salle, but has decided to attend community college near their home in Marlboro, N.J. until Preston is better.

Preston stays in touch with his friends at La Salle, attending football scrimmages to see the teammates and coaches who have supported him.

“We are so grateful to everyone at La Salle, the faculty, the staff. Even the families that have never met Preston have been so compassionate,” Tammy said.

Although it is impossible to say if and when Preston will fully recover, he continues working towards this goal with his family.

“I ask him every day, ‘Preston, what happens if you don’t get better?’” Tammy said. “And Preston answers, ‘Injury wins.’ Preston wants to win.”

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu