A Philadelphia Phillies prospect has lost an eye as a result of a freakish, unfortunate incident while working out last week.
On Friday, Matt Imhof was taking part in some routine stretching following a game when the metal base that anchored a rubber resistance band to a wall snapped and sent a piece of metal into his right eye. Imhof suffered a fractured nose, two fractured orbital bones and lost vision in his right eye.
Doctors attempted to save the eye, which they said was essentially “crushed like a grape,” but ultimately it was decided that the best course of action was for Imhof to have the eye replaced with a prosthesis.
The 22-year-old pitcher is a former second-round pick who is currently with the Single-A Clearwater Threshers. The loss of his eye is obviously an unexpected setback, but he’s certainly not ready to give up on his career in professional baseball. Judging from the Instagram caption he uploaded this week, Imhof is doing his best to stay positive.
As many of you know on Friday June 25th I had an accident. A large price of metal hit me in the head/eye resulting in a fractured nose, 2 fractured orbital bones, and most significantly, the loss of vision in my right eye. I was immediately taken to the ER and then transferred to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the #1 eye hospital in the world. That night, the doctors informed me that the damage to my eye was extreme and essentially that my eye had been crushed like a grape. The doctors told me they were going to do everything possible to reconstruct it but in all likelihood I would never regain sight in my right eye.
The first surgery was somewhat a success but overall nothing had changed, so after discussions with my family and my doctors, it was decided that the best chance I had to live a normal life was to have my right eye removed and have a prosthetic one put in. This decision was not an easy one to make but to me it seemed like the right one so on Tuesday afternoon I went forward with the surgery.
I’m currently still in Miami recovering from surgery but I’m doing well. This has been the hardest week of my life but I’ve had amazing support from my family and friends to help me get through it. For those who have been wishing me well, your support has not gone unnoticed and I appreciate everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers. I had the best doctors in the world doing their best work on me and for that I am grateful as well. Although this injury has been tough it could have been much worse…I’m lucky to still have vision in my left eye…I’m lucky that i didn’t have brain damage…and I’m lucky to be surrounded my the most loving and understanding people in the world.
I just wanted to write this message to let everyone know that even though I suffered some bad luck, I’m not dead. I’m gonna be alright, I’m gonna persevere, and I’m gonna succeed. It takes more than this to bring me down. Again thanks to everyone for the support.
While losing an eye in such an incredibly unfortunate manner is awful to hear, it’s good to see that the young man is taking it in stride. On the bright side, he’s probably in line for a pretty badass nickname like Cyclops now.
(Via ESPN)
